Prominent human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to suspend his vacation and return to the country immediately, warning that Nigeria is drifting towards anarchy due to increasing disobedience of court orders and growing disregard for the rule of law.
Falana made the call in a strongly worded statement released on Friday. He expressed deep concern over what he described as the “inexorable descent to anarchy and chaos,” fueled by government officials and powerful individuals ignoring valid judgments delivered by Nigerian courts.
“President Bola Tinubu should prevent the state from collapsing by suspending his vacation,” the statement read. “There is a dangerous trend of court judgments being ignored by governments and powerful individuals.”
Falana particularly singled out the Nigerian Senate, led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, accusing it of being the “most notorious institution” when it comes to disobeying court rulings.
He alleged that the Senate under Akpabio’s leadership has developed a pattern of treating court decisions with contempt, thereby undermining the judicial system and promoting lawlessness in the country.
“The most notorious institution is the Senate under the leadership of Senator Godswill Akpabio,” Falana stated. “The Senate has consistently shown disrespect for the decisions of Nigerian courts.”
Falana also urged the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to take action against the growing trend of court order violations.
He said the legal community must not remain silent while the foundations of justice are being destroyed by political leaders who choose which court orders to obey and which to ignore.
“I call on the Nigerian Bar Association to rise to the occasion by drawing up effective measures to address this dangerous situation,” Falana said.
According to him, no democracy can survive when the rule of law is treated with levity and institutions of government act with impunity.
Falana’s statement comes at a time of rising political tension and public frustration over perceived lawlessness by key government figures and institutions.
There have been several high-profile cases in recent months where court rulings were reportedly ignored by both state and federal authorities. These include judgments involving political appointments, detentions, and labour disputes.
The Senate under Akpabio has also come under fire from civil society groups and opposition lawmakers, who accuse it of being too soft on executive excesses and failing in its oversight role.
President Tinubu’s ongoing vacation abroad has also sparked criticism, especially as several national issues—such as insecurity, economic hardship, and political unrest—remain unresolved.
Falana warned that if the current trend is not reversed, Nigeria risks sliding into full-blown lawlessness where citizens and institutions no longer feel bound by the law.
“The rule of law is the backbone of any democracy,” he said. “When court judgments are treated as mere suggestions, the country is on a dangerous path.”
As of the time of this report, neither the Presidency nor the Senate has responded to Falana’s statement.
