The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has accused Lagos lawyer Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) of adopting unorthodox tactics by abusing his privileged access to the Nigerian media to attack and impugn the integrity of Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai who is working assiduously to end the spate of terror attacks in the country.

HURIWA said that the call by Femi Falana and his “boys” on Lieutenant-General Buratai to resign over spurious allegations by a blackmailer that he violated his official position to procure housing assets offshore in Dubia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) amounted to the use of media ambush to castigate a man who in the eyes of the law is totally innocent until contrary determination is made by a competent court.
In a statement by the National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the national Media Affairs Director Miss Zainab Yusuf, HURIWA accused Mr. Falana of abandoning much more serious human rights advocacy issues just to chase political shadows.
“Femi Falana is a known acolyte of the National Leader of the All Progressive Congress Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Lagos State governor Mr. Akinwumi Ambode. Why has he kept quiet even in the face of monumental human rights violations of the socio-economic rights of hundreds of thousands of petty Lagos traders who are being chased out of their economic activities by the Lagos State government?”
The Rights group also accused Mr. Falana of pursuing parochial and selfish ends by calling for General Buratai’s resignation when section 36 (1) of the Nigerian Constitution states that in the face of unproven allegations, the accused is totally innocent until contrary determination is reached. The constitution states as follows: “In the determination of his civil rights and obligations, including any question or determination by or against any government or authority, a person shall be entitled to a fair hearing within a reasonable time by a court or other tribunal establish by law and constituted in such manner as to secure its independence and impartiality.”
Besides, HURIWA stressed that it would amount to double jeopardy if the ill-advice of the likes of Mr. Falana is adhered to when the Nigerian government has already through the office of the Minister of Justice cleared General Buratai of any wrong doing.
“If we may ask did General Buratai steal Mr. Femi Falana’s money? Has Falana found out that Nigeria’s money under the custody of the Nigerian Armed Forces under the current dispensation is missing? Why can’t persons with easy access to the media use their position to support the ongoing counter-terror war rather than distracting the Army? Why is Falana working in cohort with a discredited blog based abroad to undermine the counter terror war?.
“The Federal Government investigation has cleared Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Tukur Buratai of corruption in the alleged ownership of assets in Dubai and military acquisitions.”
“The government, after investigating a recent media report over the acquisition of property in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) by General Buratai, discovered that he and his wives invested as ‘shareholders’ like many other persons in the property mentioned in the publications and were not the sole owners.”
•Photo shows Femi Falana (SAN).

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