A human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), has charged Nigerians to maximize the advantages provided to them by the law.

Speaking on the status of the rule of law and the Judiciary, on Soni Irabor Live at News Central, the human rights lawyer decried the ignorance and indifferent attitudes of many Nigerians in exercising their rights as stipulated in the constitution, while allowing them to be breached by government agencies.

Commenting on Dele Farotimi’s ongoing case and the hope of common Nigerians, Falana pointed out that “Nigerians are not taking advantage of the provisions of the law to have lawyers to represent them. For instance, under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, at the federal level, which shall be adopted by all the state governments in Nigeria, if a suspect is arrested by the police or any law enforcement agency, on getting to the station or the detention center, the police, at their own expense, shall contact his or her family members, or next of kin to defer that so, and so is in our custody.”

Mr. Falana argued that an arraigned victim must be either allowed to call his lawyer, or a legal counsel be provided for at the expense of the government, where a victim had no means of doing so.
Falana charged stakeholders, including workers and academics, to hold the government accountable by asking relevant questions about the controversial tax reform.

“You can’t discuss the taxes of the country in isolation, these vital sectors of the economy. And, the government exists, as far as the constitution is concerned, the welfare and security of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.

“So, if you are going to have more monetary taxation, the question is, what will the money be used for?
“Will it be like the case of fuel subsidy that would lead to more money for the three tiers of government without any attempt to improve the quality of the life of every citizen in our country?

“Or, are you increasing taxation so that we can abolish illiteracy in our country, and promote the right to education of every citizen?

“Are we increasing taxation so that the right of health of every citizen would be guaranteed? Are we increasing taxation to improve social services in the country.”

The Sun Nigeria