Falana ‘Lawyers are preventing FG from fighting corruption,’ Human rights activist says

Falana made the comment while delivering a paper titled, ‘Law, media and economic development of Nigeria’, at the ongoing NBA Annual Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Femi Falanahas accused the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) of hampering the Federal Government’s fight against corruption by invoking human rights in its defence of high profile suspects accused of stealing public funds.

Prominent lawyer and Human rights Activist; Femi Falana made the comment while delivering a paper titled, ‘Law, media and economic development of Nigeria’, at the ongoing NBA Annual Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

“The theme of the 2015 Annual Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) was ‘Law and Economic Development’. At the end of a robust discourse, far-reaching resolutions were adopted by the participants,” Falana said according to Punch.

“Not only were the resolutions jettisoned, the NBA has been defending the human rights of politically-exposed persons accused of the mega looting of the treasury.

“By invoking human rights whenever politically-exposed persons are asked by the anti-graft agencies to account for the mega looting of the nation’s treasury, the Nigeria Bar Association has given the impression that corruption should not be fought by the Federal Government.

“But having realised that the economic crisis plaguing the country has since been compounded by the adoption of neo-liberal policies by the Buhari administration, the NBA has decided to revisit the theme.

“It is, however, hoped that the NBA will resolve to use the law to challenge the underdevelopment of the country. In my presentation I shall review the national economy within the ambit of the Constitution and the relevant laws.

“In conclusion, I shall call on Nigerian lawyers to team up with the Nigerian people to wrestle the control of the economy from imperialism and its local lackeys,” he added.

Meanwhile, Falana has accused the Muhammadu Buhariadministration of following the footsteps of the Goodluck Jonathan government by covering up corruption.