Wike’s Aide Lere Olayinka Cautions Femi Falana Over Supreme Court Remarks On Rivers Crisis

Mr. Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike, has issued a stern warning to human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), urging him not to mislead his clients with inaccurate interpretations of judicial decisions.

The caution follows Falana’s recent television interview where he stated that the Supreme Court’s judgment on the political crisis in Rivers State did not address the legitimacy of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly.

Olayinka, in a statement issued Monday in Abuja, countered the claim, citing a recent ruling by Justice Emmanuel Obile of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, which dismissed a suit filed by the Labour Party challenging the defection of 27 lawmakers. 

According to him, the judge’s decision was based on the finality of the Supreme Court’s ruling on the matter.

“But Falana went on television to misrepresent what happened to his client, claiming the Supreme Court didn’t rule on the defection,” Olayinka said.

He also took issue with Falana’s assertion that three lawmakers could conduct legislative business in the Assembly, referencing Section 96(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which stipulates that one-third of all members must be present to form a quorum.