Falana Says Rivers Sole Administrator Ibas Not Qualified To Attend NEC Meeting With State Governors
According to Falana, the National Economic Council is constituted by the Vice-President who shall be the Chairman; the Governor of each State of the Federation; and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria established under the Central Bank Act.
Renowned human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has queried why the Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.) attended the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting which held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday.
According to Falana, the National Economic Council is constituted by the Vice-President who shall be the Chairman; the Governor of each State of the Federation; and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria established under the Central Bank Act.
Falana, who was the Chairman of the 70th Birthday Lecture of Dr. Osagie Obayuwana stated that since “a Sole Administrator is not a member of the NEC, whoever invited Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas to the meeting of the body committed a grave violation of the Nigerian Constitution.
“President Tinubu should warn the Sole Administrator to desist from violating the Constitution by attending meetings of any other federal executive body,” he said.
Falana also challenged the sole administrator over the statement credited to him, saying his will is being tested by the Rivers State people.
Speaking through his Senior Special Adviser on Media, Hector Igbikiowubo, Ibas had stated that the gazette imposing emergency rule in the state granted the sole administrator “sweeping powers.”
Falana emphatically stated that the gazette did not grant any power to the administrator whatsoever.
“In fact, it is specifically said that the Sole Administrator shall govern Rivers State on the basis of Regulations issued by President Tinubu. Since the President has not issued any Regulation, all powers so far by the Sole Administrator are ultra vires, illegal, null and void. Without any further delay, the appointment of the Administrator should be terminated.”
Mr. Falana also took a swipe at the executive order recently issued by Governor Umaru Bago of Niger State that individuals keeping dreadlock hairstyles be arrested and forcibly shaved as part of an effort to dismantle the identity and networks of known street gangs.
The human rights lawyer said that the executive order of the President or the Governor of a State cannot create a criminal offence that is unknown to law.
To that extent, the directive of the governor that individuals keeping dreadlock hairstyles be arrested and forcibly shaved is unlawful and unconstitutional.
“In the case of FAITH OKAFOR V. GOVERNOR OF LAGOS STATE & ANOR. (2016) LPELR-41066 (CA), the Governor of Lagos State issued a directive restricting the movement of citizens and residents during the State’s monthly environmental sanitation, the Court of Appeal unanimously held that the Appellant, Faith Okafor, could not be arrested or prosecuted for disobeying or flouting the Executive Order or Directive of the Governor of Lagos State because the Appellant could only be arrested and prosecuted for an offence that is prescribed in a written law.”
