Femi Falana, Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to call the “rascal” Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed to order.
This, he said in a statement titled “FG Is Not Competent To Reject The Report Of Okuwobi Judicial Commission Of Enquiry” becomes imperative over the remarks of the minister on the report of the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses and other matters.
Falana noted that President Buhari had told United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, during a meeting recently that state governments would have to take steps on the reports of their panels before the Federal Government would act on the recommendations while the Minister in a display of rascality has overruled the President by rejecting the report of the Lagos Panel on behalf of the Federal Government.
“On November 18, 2021, President Muhammadu Buhari held a meeting in Abuja with Mr Anthony Blinken, the United States Secretary of State. During the meeting, President Buhari said that the state governments in the country would have to take steps on the reports of their panels before the Federal Government acts on the recommendations.
In particular, the President said, “We at the federal level have to wait for the steps taken by the states, and we have to allow the system to work. We can’t impose ideas on them. The Federal Government has to wait for the reaction of the states.”
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But in an utter display of executive rascality, Mr Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Information has overruled the President by rejecting the report of the Lagos Panel on behalf of the Federal Government.
By not waiting “for the reaction of the states,” the Minister has overruled the President of the Republic. As if that was not enough, the Minister decided to insult the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu by rejecting the report of the Judicial Commission instituted by him under the Tribunal of Enquiry Law of Lagos State. Thus, the Governor who is currently studying the report has been presented with a fait accompli by the Minister. As far as Mr. Mohammed is concerned, the Governor must toe his line” Falana stated.
He, therefore, called on President Buhari to call the minister to order.
“Mr. Mohammed’s steps undermine the rule of law and social justice in the land. President Buhari should call him to order” the statement added.
