By Dr Vincent Adedara (Solicitor in Nigeria, England and Wales)
Mr Nyesom Wike is now the Adolf Hitler in Nigeria. His ungrateful attitude to God’s kindness to him makes him to always demand a pound of flesh from everyone standing on his way. The people that helped Mr Nyesom Wike didn’t demand that he should donate his liver and kidney. Today, he is demanding livers and kidneys from those he helped like Governor Fubara with overbearing attitude and claiming to be God over them, forgetting that Herod received an instant answer for similar arrogance in the bible. He has the antecedent of turning against his helpers.
Let Mr Wike be reminded that he didn’t fall from heaven. He was recommended by Senator Mbata he fell out with, to Dr Peter Odili for Local Govt Chairman of Obio Akpor, and Justice Mary Odili took him as a son and made sure he became the chairman. That’s the same woman he’s abusing today.
Mr Amaechi made him his Chief of Staff, which was well deserved considering the role Mr Wike played in helping the former reclaim his mandate at the courts. Mr Amaechi recommended him as minister to represent Rivers State at the federal level when he was becoming too overbearing in the state. He was so tough and torn in the flesh of the sitting Governor that he could stop Amaechi’s convoy so as to sign any document he wanted. He is still tough and rough till now, he is not a gentleman.
He didn’t want to leave Rivers State for the FCT to be a minister because he was aspiring to be a governor after Mr Amaechi. Due to his governorship ambition, he was unhappy with that recommendation. He capitalised on the issues between Mr Amaechi and President Jonathan at the time to further his ambition and warm his way into President Jonathan’s heart. At every stage of his career, he was helped by somebody, and he betrayed all of them with no exception. This same man is talking about loyalty and gratitude that he deserves from people. Can you avoid karma? The law of sowing and reaping is sacrosanct, and Mr Wike is reaping his sowing. Ask those who were in Port Harcourt around 2003 or 2004 when he was the local government chairman. They’ll tell you that Mr Wike’s wickedness is inbuilt. It is not impossible that he may turn against President Tinubu before 2027.
ATTACK ON FEMI FALANA SAN
Recently, Mr Wike insulted lawyers in Nigeria, he also called Falana SAN, a television lawyer and also compares himself with Femi Falana SAN, doing that is like comparing heaven with earth, Femi Falana SAN is a gentleman who has made a great name for himself globally, he is not suffering from schizophrenia or Bipolar Disorder. He is not a looter of treasury, he is a democrat and not an autocrat. He talks like a sane individual at every gathering.
Can we say a few out of the numerous things he had done for humanity through his profession, he built several edifices in Lagos for victims and orphans.
Domestic and regional courts have taken judicial notice of Femi Falana’s human rights work and contribution to human rights jurisprudence:
In Socio-Economic and Accountability Rights Project v Nigeria the Federal High Court (Unreported Suit No FHHC/CS/ABJ/CS/640/ 2010 (Kolawole J) said:“When I read the written address, it is in my view, a classical thesis on international law and conventions on human rights… It confirmed Mr. Falana, SAN as a redoubtable and well grounded human rights activist of deep intellectual learning in this area of the law”.
In All Nigeria Peoples Party v. Inspector-General Party (2008) 12 WRN 65, Adekeye JCA (as she then was) held:
“I am intrigued by the brilliant and elucidating submission of the learned counsel and especially that of the learned counsel for the respondents, Mr. Femi Falana, on the core aspect of this appeal which by all means is the interpretation of sections 39 and 40 of the 1999 Constitution touching on the fundamental rights of the citizens of this country to freedom of expression and right to peaceful assembly and association and the application and the effect of the Public Order Act Cap 382 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 on same. This court appreciates the level of research put into the preparation of his brief particularly the opinion of courts on contemporary issues from other parts of the world”
In Nigeria Labour Congress v. Federal Government of Nigeria (Unreported) Suit No S.C 33/2008 of February 2, 2008. the Supreme Court (Per Bade JSC) noted:
“The name ˜FEMI FALANA is one that judicial notice may be taken, having attained a positive notoriety, particularly in human rights advocacies in this country and beyond.”
In Tokunbo Oyemade v Ecowas Executive Secretary & 2 Ors- JUD/ECW/CCJ/04/05 the Ecowas Court had this to say:
“Mr. Falana, the President of West African Bar Association, appearing as amicus curiae, addressed the Court on some dicey issues relating to the criteria of granting an interlocutory application and the principle of master/ servant relationship. He relied on the Ghanaian the Supreme Court case of New Patriotic Party v. Inspector-General of Police 2000 2 HRLRA P 1 at 63 and submitted that ECOWAS and its organs owe a duty to ensure that the rights of its citizens are not violated, and that any case alleging violation of rights is very serious issue. The Court appreciates his contributions.
Among the cases handled in the Supreme Court, two stand out:
1. Honourable Justice Kalu Anyah v. Dr. Festus Iyayi (1993) 7 NWLR (PT 305) 290 SC
It was held by the Supreme Court held that the Head of State, as the Visitor to a University, was not competent to dismiss a lecturer.
Based on this judgment, the authorities of the University of Benin decided to recall Professor Festus Iyayi (former ASUU president), Professor Itse Sagay and other lecturers who were sacked by the University and military president Babangida.
Since the judgment was handed down, the President, as the Visitor to all Federal Universities, has always forwarded the reports of visitation panels to the Governing Councils of Federal Universities.
2.Osun State Independent Electoral Commission v. Action Congress & Ors. (2010) 19 NWLR (PT 1226) 273 SC
It was held by the Supreme Court that a state’s independent electoral commission cannot conduct an election without giving notice to registered political parties in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
This judgment has always been complied with by state independent electoral commissions. Otherwise, local government elections are liable to be declared illegal.
Ogor & Others v. Kolawole (1983) 1 NCR 342; (1985) 6 NCLR 53
The High Court of Oyo State declared the detention of the applicants on a holding charge illegal and unconstitutional. This was the first case in which a holding charge was pronounced illegal and unconstitutional.
On account of this case, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act provides that a criminal suspect cannot be detained beyond the constitutional limit without a remand order made by a Magistrate.
Bamidele Opeyemi & Ors. v. Prof. Grace Alele-Williams (1989) NPILR 302
The High Court of Edo state declared the suspension of the applicants as undergraduates of the University of Benin illegal and unconstitutional as they were denied right to fair hearing guaranteed by section 33 of the 1979 Constitution and article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (Cap A9) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
This was the first case in which a Nigerian court held that the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights was applicable and enforceable in Nigeria.
In Femi Falana v. Attorney-General of the Federation (No 1) (Unreported) Suit No: FHC/L/ 1122/12, the Federal High Court directed the federal government to establish the Nigerian Education Bank to give loans to indigent undergraduates in tertiary institutions.
The Federal Government under the Tinubu administration has since established a loan scheme for indigent undergraduates in all public universities in Nigeria
In Inspector-General of Police v. All Nigeria Peoples Party (2008) 12 WRN 65, the Federal High Court annulled police permit for public meetings, rallies and demonstrations. Accordingly, certain provisions of the Public Order Act were struck down for being inconsistent with sections 39 & 40 of the Constitution.
In affirming the judgment, the Court of Appeal held that the fundamental rights of Nigerian citizens to freedom of assembly and expression include the right to demonstrate for and against the government. Consequently, section 83(4) of the Police Establishment Act 2020 states that the police shall provide adequate security for participants in public meetings, rallies, and processions.
These were the two Supreme Court cases he handled before becoming a SAN
He fought for Late Bamidele Aturu, Ebunolu Adegboruwa SAN, my goodself and many others when we were Student Union Leaders at Obafemi Awolowo University. He fought for the current Majority leader of the Senate Micheal Opeyemi Bamidele (MOB), when he was expelled by the University of Benin. What long-standing achievements, what can we refer to about Mr Wike than fighting his political protégé on a disagreement over sharing formula?
HOW THE COURTS STOPPED ILLEGAL SUSPENSION OF LEGISLATORS IN NIGERIA DUE TO HIS EFFORTS
In 2010, his law firm handled the case of Hon Dino Melaye and 10 other legislators who were suspended for accusing the Dimeji Bankole-led House of Representatives of wallowing in corruption. The Federal High Court declared the suspension of the legislators illegal and unconstitutional and ordered the payment of their withheld salaries and allowances.
In 2012, his law firm also handled the case of Honourable Rifkatu Danna, the only female member of the 31-member Bauchi State House of Assembly. Danna was suspended in June 2012 for allegedly making uncomplimentary remarks when she challenged the lawmakers’ decision to approve the relocation of the headquarters of Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State. But the Bauchi State High Court declared her suspension illegal and ordered the Bauchi State House of Assembly to reinstate her and pay her withheld salaries and allowances.
In 2017, the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal filed against the judgment of the Bauchi State High Court in respect of the illegal suspension of Honourable Rifkatu Danna. The Court upheld his submission to the effect that the suspension of the legislator constituted a breach of the right of the Bogoro Constituency to be represented by her in the state house of assembly. The Court equally held that the decision of the House to withhold the salaries and allowances of the legislator was illegal, as she was not an employee but an elected member of the Bauchi State House of Assembly.
In 2018, his law firm equally handled the case of Honourable Abdulmumin Jibrin, a member of the House of Representatives who was suspended for 180 days for accusing the Yakubu Dogara-led House of padding the 2016 national budget. The Federal High Court nullified the suspension and ordered the payment of the withheld salaries and allowances of the legislator.
Based on the case of the Speaker, Bauchi State House of Assembly v Honourable Rifkatu Danna (2017) 49 WRN 82, which is the locus classicus on the subject matter, the 2017 suspension of Senator Ali Ndume by the Bukola Saraki-led Senate was annulled by the Federal High Court. The case was filed on behalf of the Senator by his lawyer, Marcel Oru Esq.
In the same vein, the 2020 suspension of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege was declared illegal and unconstitutional by the Federal High Court. The case was filed on behalf of the Senator by Edward Omaga Esq.
Sometime in 2020, the Jigawa State House of Assembly suspended a lawmaker, Hon. Sani Iyaku, over alleged criticism of the state governor, Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar Badaru, who was on a visit to Hadejia town for a wedding ceremony. Honourable Iyaku challenged his suspension in the Jigawa State High Court. The trial Judge, Justice Ahmed, ruled that the action of the Assembly did not comply with Order 15 rule 74 (2)(c) and (3) a, b of the state House of Assembly standing orders 2017 and therefore declared the suspension illegal, inappropriate, null and void. The court also directed that the defendant be paid his three months’ allowances withheld to the tune of N3 million.
On November 18, 2020, the Court of Appeal, sitting in Akure, Ondo State, dismissed the motion for stay of execution filed by the state House of Assembly against the judgment of the High Court reinstating the three suspended members of the state assembly. The Presiding Judge, Justice Folayemi Omoleye, queried the appellants for bringing a frivolous appeal before the court, directing that the lawmakers should be reinstated immediately to resume their legislative duties.
On August 13, 2024, the same court reinstated Hon. Iroju Ogundeji as the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly. In a unanimous ruling, Justices Oyebisi Folayemi Omoleye, Frederick Oziakpono-Oho, and Yusuf Alhaji Bashir affirmed the decision made by Justice Akintan Osadebey, which reinstated the two-term legislator representing the Odigbo state constituency.
In the past five years, the High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State, and the National Industrial Court nullified the illegal suspension of members of the Houses of Assembly of Kogi and Edo State, respectively.
In March 2024, the Godswill Akpabio-led Senate suspended Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP; Bauchi) for three months for alleging that Nigeria’s 2024 budget was padded. The Senator instructed his law firm to challenge the suspension in the Federal High Court. In the process,he wrote to the leadership of the Senate to review the suspension, the Senate recalled Senator Ningi and paid his withheld salaries and allowances.
In view of the definitive pronouncements of the several High Court and the Court of Appeal on the illegality of the suspension of elected members of legislative houses in Nigeria, the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is the height of legislative recklessness. The illegal suspension should be lifted without any further delay. Since the Federal High Court had restrained the Senate Ethics Committee from hearing the complaint against the embattled Senator pending the determination of the motion on notice the Senate ought to have stayed action in accordance with the rule of law.
The official impunity of suspending legislators at the whims and caprices of leaders of the federal and state legislative houses must not be allowed to continue in Nigeria, thanks to proactive action of Femi Falana SAN.
Mr Nyesom Wike worked as a lawyer under Emmanuel Ukala SAN, one of the richest lawyers in Port Harcourt, but did he win any landmark cases like Femi Falana SAN? Nobody could have known Mr Wike if not for the rough and backstabbing politics he played in Rivers State. Mr Wike was made by politics and tax payers money but Femi Falana SAN was made by hard work, self development and providence, this man must be respected for the legitimate means of livelihood devoid of cheap money available to politicians who have livers to rig elections successfully in Nigeria and have access to the treasury to become emergency billionaires and able to donate any amount from the treasury to garner favours, title and positions and stalk more money for future rigging of elections.
Mr Wike donated 500 million Naira to the Body of Benchers before he was made a life bencher, several thousands of lawyers are better than Mr Wike who had never won a single case at the trial court, court of appeal and the Supreme court and l still wonder the reason why he was made a life bencher, his donations to the body of benchers should be returned immediately and let him resign his position as a life bencher, we need people to occupy the exalted position on merit, Mr Wike is not a gentleman. A man who has not won a case should not be considered a life Bencher. He can be a life member of his political party and not the Body of Benchers.
It is an insult on the collective body of lawyers in Nigeria that Mr Wike is a life bencher. Money in the bank and frequent donations should not be criteria for merit. This is what is giving him the guts to insult the highly respected NBA with impunity and casting aspersions on those who had carved niches for themselves in the profession, like Prof Odinkalu and Femi Falana, SAN because he has taxpayers’ money in his pocket.
LERE OLAYINKA: A HIDDEN BETRAYAL IN MR WIKE’S CAMP.
He has a betrayal called Lere Olayinka as SSA on public communication, Lere Olayinka was deserved by Mr Wike, Mr Olayinka was appointed by Fayose as SA public communication on 14th April 2014 but on 18th of July 2016 through press release,he accused Mr Fayose as a master rigger of election, that he deliberately exposed his 1.4 billions Naira poultry scam, he said he killed scores of people in Ekiti including Tunde Omojola, an in-law to Hon. Labaika Suleiman, the National Conscience Party (NCP) candidate in the election. He said his murder was allegedly supervised by Fayose.He said Mr Fayose must visit the families of Tunde Omojola, Dr. Ayo Daramola, nine students of the College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti killed during a mere protest, the likes of Aseweje, Ben Ogundana, Dapo Osunniyi, Kamoru Folorunso, Ojo Sunday and several others that were visited with terror during the 2004 local council polls in Ilawe, Ogotun and Igbara-Odo to seek amnesty.
There was Judas to Jesus, Absalom and Ahitophel to David and there is Lere Olayinka to Mr Fayose and now to Mr Wike, he will soon betray him at every slight tamper with his comfort, Mr Olayinka did it to Mr Fayose and for Mr Fayose to have recommended Olayinka to Mr Wike, Mr Fayose must have a big heart but Leopard Lere can never change his colour, he has history of betraying his benefactor. He will soon betray Mr Wike too or maybe that is who Mr Wike deserves by fate.
‘Ekiti Strength’ on 26th April 2020 as powered by the Ekiti Integrity group reported on Lere Olayinka , Olayinka is from Okemesi Ekiti, nobody can know him better than the people from Ekiti state, in the publication of Ekiti Strength online publisher had this to say about Lere Olayinka in their platform and it is still there, l will copy little out of the publication to know that Lere Olayinka should not be taking serious, he might not be known to Mr Wike but he is well known to Ekiti people.
“UNMASKING LERE OLAYINKA AND HIS SERIAL CRIMES
Some of the crimes committed by Lere Olayinka include theft, burglary,
libel, blackmail, examination misconduct, multiple and mind-boggling fraud, embezzlement of public funds, peddling falsehood, churning out hate speeches and sex scandals.
Lere Olayinka used to be a cobbler in Lagos where he stole his brother-in-law’s money and also confessed to sitting for an examination for his wife at the Nigeria Institute of Journalism, Ogba, Lagos.
Lere Olayinka’s claim to being a journalist is bogus and non-existent as he has no certificate or academic qualification to back such claim. He is an impersonator, period.
He was a dropout at the Nigeria Institute of Journalism, Ogba, Lagos where he failed to complete a diploma course and any certificate he is parading to back such a claim is fake, as such can only be procured from Oluwole, a Lagos Island neighbourbood notorious for producing fake documents.
Lere Olayinka attempted to remedy his academic deficiency at the Ado Ekiti Campus of the International Institute of Journalism but he wanted to use his former position in government to railroad the authorities to issue him a certificate without attending classes,
writing tests and examination a request that was rightly turned down as such certificates are not sold in the open market!
Lere Olayinka fled from Lagos only to land in Akure, the capital of Ondo State, where he committed some crimes while working with Mr. Tunde Alade, the publisher of the now rested CLASS Newspaper and a lawyer and human rights activist, Mr. Morakinyo Ogele including using his position to blackmail innocent people to extort money from them.
During this period, Lere Olayinka stole a printing plate that the production crew wanted to use to produce copies of CLASS Newspaper in a bid to corner all the proceeds from that production to the chagrin of Alade and Ogele.
It is also on record that Lere Olayinka, during his Akure misadventure, broke into the law chambers of Ogele located at Oyemekun Road, Akure and stole N250,000, a fact that is in the public domain and verifiable by anyone who wishes to investigate same.
An impersonation case hanging on Lere Olayinka’s neck was his villainous bravado of posing as an elected lawmaker in the hallowed chamber of Ekiti State House of Assembly in November 2014 during the screening and ratification of nominees for the positions of commissioners and special advisers in the early days of the second tenure of Ayo Fayose.
The Fourth Assembly at the time Fayose came to power in October 2014 had 19 APC lawmakers while PDP had 7 lawmakers in a 26-member House, which needed a quorum of 9 members to hold any valid sitting. The 19 APC members had been run out of town after their 6 PDP counterparts loyal to Fayose illegally impeached Dr. Adewale Omirin as Speaker and replaced him with Mr. Dele Olugbemi on November 20, 2014.
To conduct a sitting to screen and ratify Fayose’s nominees, at least nine members would be needed to form a quorum but on the day of plenary, Lere Olayinka and three other mystery individuals joined the six PDP lawmakers to perform the constitutional act.
Assembly staff, party loyalists, civil servants, journalists and other members of the public in the gallery were stunned when Lere Olayinka and three others who were not elected to sit in the hallowed chambers joined the PDP lawmakers to screen and ratify nominees. It is now up to security agencies to reopen the case file and dig deep.
A case of criminal forgery and doctoring of a witness statement on oath is also hanging ominously on the neck of this vile fellow named Lere Olayinka and this can be investigated by the appropriate security agencies.
In the murder case of the former state Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Chief Omolafe Aderiye, Lere Olayinka criminally tampered with a witness statement on oath of Mr. Gbolahan Okeowo.
Okeowo, who served as the Personal Assistant to the late Aderiye while giving evidence before an Ekiti State High Court presided over by Justice Lekan Ogunmoye, revealed that Lere Olayinka tore his witness statement on oath and wrote another one in the chambers of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice at the State Secretariat, Ado Ekiti.
Okeowo testified in open court that Lere Olayinka committed the crime because he felt the witness statement on oath did not incriminate and implicate the accused persons. The evidence is available at Ekiti State High Court for interested members of the public for confirmation.
In the earlier statement on oath, the witness deposed to which was torn by Lere Olayinka, Okeowo’s averments exonerated the seven transport workers implicated by the Fayose regime of complicity in the Aderiye murder.
Lere Olayinka personally changed Okeowo’s statement on oath and wrote another one to implicate the accused persons of having hands in the murder of Omolafe Aderiye. What can be criminal more than that?
The accused persons are Adebayo Aderiye alias Ojugo, Adeniyi Adedipe alias Apase, Sola Durodola, Ajayi Kayode, Sola Adenijo alias Solar, Oso Farotimi alias Oso Polo and Rotimi Olanbiwonnu alias Mentillo.
Okeowo, in his testimony, told the court that he was pricked by his conscience and had to depose to another affidavit at the Federal High Court, Akure to contain the original averment in the first statement on oath torn by Olayinka.
The court had on January 28, 2018, discharged and acquitted all the seven persons who were found innocent of the murder charge for which they stood trial for almost four years while being incarcerated in the Federal Prisons, Ado Ekiti.
If former PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, could be prosecuted for destroying the statement he wrote in EFCC custody, Lere Olayinka should not be allowed by security agencies and shouldn’t not allow Lere to get away with his own crime..
Also awaiting investigation by security agencies is Lere Olayinka’s complicity in allowing the use of the Broadcasting Service of Ekiti State which he supervised for three years and nine months for illegal and criminal declaration of the 2018 governorship result by his boss, Ayodele Fayose when collation was yet to be concluded by INEC.
The treasonable action led to the closure of the station by the National Broadcasting Commission for violation of broadcast code. The usurpation of INEC’s duty by Olayinka in cahoots with his boss who awarded victory to their party heightened tension in the state.
It is on record that Lere Olayinka used his position in BSES to commit several crimes carrying fake news, broadcasting hate speeches,twisting reporters’ stories, embezzlement of millions of Naira, collecting huge cash for seminars not attended, awarding contracts which were not executed, committing diesel fraud, collecting advertisement money from various ministries which were not remitted to the accounts of BSES.
Security agencies must launch a probe into how Lere Olayinka fraudulently and criminally converted a brand new 18-seater bus given to BSES under a barter arrangement with Chief Akintunde Ayeni popularly known as YEMKEM. The deal was sealed between YEMKEM International and BSES for the corporation to be promoting the company with news, special reports, advertisements and documentaries in a relationship that was symbiotic.
Before one knew what was happening, Olayinka hijacked the bus and took it to his Lagos home for his wife’s use only to replace a brand new bus with a problematic second-hand one nobody knew where he brought it from and which had not served the corporation well.
Lere Olayinka during this period was also involved in messy sex scandals including sleeping with corpers and students on industrial attachment (SIWES) to BSES and even contract staff.
A particular case for reference was that of a lady, the late Miss Funbi Oba, who was on SIWES to BSES and served in News and Current Affairs Department. Lere Olayinka should be asked questions on what was responsible for the death of the Ikere-born girl.
Lere Olayinka, using his connection with the government in power then, snatched the lady from her former boyfriend, whom he threatened to hands off the girl for him to have her to himself. Before coming to BSES on SIWES, the late Funmi Oba worked part-time as
a flower bearer/dancer for an undertaker/funeral home, after which Lere Olayinka browbeat her into an unholy relationship.
Lere Olayinka, in a bid to keep the girl to himself, got an accommodation for her in Adebayo area of Ado Ekiti where he used to engage in endless sex romps with her. In the process of the amorous relationship, the girl got pregnant several times, but Lere Olayinka procured abortions for her to prevent the secret from leaking to his wife, who is a gospel musician.
It was a period that Lere Olayinka, who is supposedly a married man, impregnated many of those innocent girls and even procured abortions for them” This publication is known to Lere Olayinka and he has not come openly to deny it and the same man with bad records everywhere has the audacity to insult Femi Falana SAN to ask how many cases he won before he became SAN. Lere Olayinka, an AGIP man, has no record of excellence and achievements other than destroying the good image of people through the media.
Femi Falana, SAN is not in the class of Mr Wike and Lere Olayinka, a man in white garment is only careful of men carrying red oils, integrity built for years can never be rubbished by any money bags full of tax payers sweat and someone like Lere who can open his mouth to say anything so far money is involved should be louder in his insults because he has a lot of money on ground from his master for his vituperative diarrhoea mouth to run like tap water but Mr Wike should beware of this Judas in his camp.
The views expressed by contributors are strictly personal and not of Law & Society Magazine.
