By Ade omo Ade
In response to Lere Olayinka, an erstwhile shoemaker from Okemesi Ekiti whose highest academic qualification is a diploma from one backwater institute of journalism in Lagos, I present three landmark cases won by the respected human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN.
He has more than these three, but it is deemed sufficient for Lere, whose boss Nyesome Wike, the consumer of 40-year-old whisky, has ZERO experience at trial and appellate courts.
Here we go:
- ANPP v IGP IGP v. ANPP [2007] 18 NWLR (Pt. 1066) 457 at 498-499 where the Court of Appeal upheld the sanctity of citizens rights to protest. This case nullified the requirement of police permit as a precondition for holding rallies and professions. 13 years after, the National Assembly codified some aspects of this case law into the Police Act of 2020.
- Speaker, Bauchi State House of Assembly v Honourable Honourable Rifkatu Danna (2017) 49 WRN 82. *This case is the locus classicus on suspension of lawmakers in Nigeria. Femi Falana as counsel to the plaintiff (later respondent at the Court of Appeal) convinced the court to set aside the suspension of the state lawmaker. The court held that the relationship between the leadership of the House and Members is not a master-servant relationship. 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.
- Osun State Independent Electoral Commission v Action Congress & Ors (2010) JELR 47597 (SC) Supreme Court • SC.265/2009. The gist of this case was the applicability of the Electoral Act of 2010 to the conduct of Local Government Elections. Mr Femi Falana, Esq (as he then was) was counsel to the plaintiff (later appellant at the Court of Appeal and respondent at the Supreme Court). On December 17, 2010, the Supreme Court upheld Falana’s arguments and set aside the elections of 30 Local Govt Chairmen and 323 Councillors in Osun State.
In closing, I hereby challenge Cobbler Lere Olayinka to tell us his professional accomplishments in the practice of journalism that is devoid of running errands for Oni, Fayose & now, Wike.
Ire oooooo kabiti kanka gbangba rabande.
The views expressed by contributors are strictly personal and not of Law & Society Magazine.
