- He stated that Okpebholo’s comments are a direct violation of fundamental rights enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights instruments.
Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Femi Falana, has slammed Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State for declaring former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, persona non grata in the state.
The legal luminary condemned Okpebholo’s remarks and asked him to withdraw the threat he made against the former presidential candidate of the Labour Party.
The governor, during a political event in Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area, warned Obi not to enter Edo State without his permission or else he would be liable for his security.
The governor said: “There’s a new sheriff in town. He cannot just come into Edo without informing me. His security will not be guaranteed. If anything happens to him here, he will have himself to blame. I’m not joking.”
Falana, in a statement released on Sunday, stated that Okpebholo’s comments are a direct violation of fundamental rights enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights instruments.
“The threat to Mr Peter Obi’s life by the so-called ‘new sheriff in town’ contravenes Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), as well as Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, both of which guarantee the right to life,” Falana stated.
He stressed that under Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution, the security and welfare of citizens remain the primary responsibility of the government.
He demanded that Governor Okpebholo publicly withdraw the threat, issue an apology to Obi, and affirm his safety within Edo State.
Falana also advised that if the governor fails to withdraw the statement, Obi should seek legal redress by filing a suit at the Federal High Court in Benin to enforce his fundamental rights.
“Mr Obi should act with utmost urgency in view of the prevalence of mob justice and other forms of extrajudicial killings in the country,” he said