HUMAN rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana (SAN), has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to withdraw the travel ban imposed on 50 high profile criminal suspects covered by Executive Order 6 (EO6).
Falana in a statement issued on Sunday said only the courts can impose a travel ban on the suspected high profile criminals.
He argued that since the power of the anti-graft agencies and the courts to place criminal suspects on watch list or subject their passports to temporary seizure has never been in doubt, “the directive to place the 50 high profile suspected persons on watch list and restrict their movement is highly superfluous, completely unwarranted and totally uncalled for.
“In fact, it is an ingenious design to expose the Buhari administration to ridicule,” Falana said.
He stated further that since the high profile criminal suspects covered by EO6 have been placed on a watch list while their passports have been seized by either the anti-graft agencies or the courts, the travel ban slammed on them by President Buhari ought to be withdrawn without any delay.
Falana said the travel ban is a sad reminder of the reckless placement of political opponents on security watch list and seizure of their passports by the defunct military junta.
He recalled that a Federal High Court last week upheld the constitutional validity of the controversial Executive Order 6 (EO6) issued by President Mohammed Buhari on July 5 this year and that government, acting on the ruling, directed the Nigeria Immigration Service and other security agencies to place no fewer than 50 high profile persons directly affected by EO6 on watch-list and restrict them from leaving the country pending the final determination of their cases.
“Even though the names of the “50 high profile persons” have not been published by the federal government, he said they are presumed to be either standing trial in the various high courts or being investigated for corrupt practices by the anti-graft agencies.
“If the federal government had done some background check, it would have discovered that the names of the 50 VIPs have long been placed on security watch list while their passports have been impounded by the anti graft agencies or the courts as one of the conditions for admitting them to bail.
“It is public knowledge that whenever the defendants wish to travel abroad for medical treatment they usually apply for the interim release of their passports.
“Since the courts have taken judicial notice of the perilous state of medical facilities in the country such applications are usually granted. And once the suspects return from the foreign medical trips their passports are returned to the registry of the trial courts”, he explained.
He, however, regretted that indigent accused persons standing trial for stealing, fraud or other economic crimes in Nigerian courts are not entitled to such privilege because they have no money to acquire passports not to talk of paying for foreign trips and medical treatment abroad.
Falana said the travel ban on the 50 high profile criminal suspects is a sad reminder of the reckless placement of political opponents on security watch list and seizure of their passports by the defunct military junta.
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Falana you can go and challenge him in court
It will be his turn soon. PDP will be ATIKULATE
He can never take to your advice sir!!!
Tell him oooo
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He will never listen to such advice, that’s what he did in 1983/84 and end up not finished his regime.
This is the Strong president in Action.
Bros Falana respect and maintain ur dignity. Do not act or follow d way of baba owu. This one is not d matter of law but d wishes of poor masses. Do u hv case with efcc?
A denial of their fundamental human right to freedom of movement. Absolute impunity.
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Iletogun Funsho remember he is looking at it from legal point of view. He has right to discuss his opinion on the matter
Sir are you not confused the whole country now, when PMB is seriously fighting corruption so that this looters will not running away from justice but unfortunate, Mr Femi Falana and some legal luminaries are still drawn Mr President back from this task,through their interpretation of the human rights law, what a pity! May God save this country now!
That man doesn’t understand law,it’s a pity o-sin-bajo can’t talk
It amounts to convictions before arraingnment. The law presumes them innocent untie proven otherwise. Justice is for all parties. At what stage in this processes will the constitution be obeyed?
Why
In every country, looters and corrupt politicians are keep under watch by their government. It is only criminals who has problems with the law, if you are criminal, you have every reason to be crying, don’t includes the innocent Nigerian in your problem, when you were stealing and looting our nation treasury. You never care. All looters must be punish! and returns our money and property
Too late
Buhari is evil and wicked govt.
Worst thing ever happened to Nigeria.
Evil like ur forefather
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Falana ought to have warned these people to stop the practices which resulted to poverty among common people.Why soliciting for them now?Anyway,Falana does not experience poverty.
“The ban is not different from the conditions given by the court in granting these accused persons bail. The E06 is like a codification of steps to prevent those on trial for alleged corrupt practices from tampering with assets. Some of these accused persons used to go to court for permission before they can travel out of the country.
This animal strike again. Jobless man
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Olalekan sodeinde u are a disgrace to ur generation unborn for supporting corruption in Nigeria. Are u not aware of latest news on corruption caught on tape
These so called lawyers and the court in general are part of our common problems in Nigeria. I used to have a great respect for Femi Falana but not not anymore. We’ve heard news how he’s making big money from the accused and very corrupt individuals in our country.
Ask the looters to go court.
Evil man
I think that was a brilliant move, he knows all these thieves will be travelling to withdraw their stolen loots that they refused to keep in Nigeria in order to buy votes during this election time or pay thugs and sponsor political violence.
Nigeria back to 1984 junta year.
Buhari must go….2019