Human rights activist and senior lawyer, Femi Falana has cautioned the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike against the sealing of embassies for defaulting on payment of ground rent for their facilities.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Falana said such an act by the minister is capable of bringing diplomatic problems for Nigeria as a country.

Recall that the FCT Administration had announced that some embassies are among properties within the capital city that are owing ground rents

According to the FCTA, its officials, after a 14-day grace period would be sealing off some of the properties including the embassies.

However, in his reaction, Falana said sealing off properties was not the right way for any government or agency to mandate individuals, companies or organisations to pay their taxes.

He argued that the right way for the FCTA to go about this particular challenge is by following due process.

He warned that any other process followed in recovering the funds being owed on these properties would be unlawful.

He said, “As far as the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations is concerned, the premises of any embassy in Abuja are inviolable by Article 22 of the convention.

“If we embark on invading the embassy of any country, it’s going to lead to serious diplomatic problems for Nigeria. So, it is not allowed,” Falanq stated.

The senior lawyer further queried the FCT minister’s directive on the sealing-off process.

“The minister cannot order that a house be sealed up because the right to a fair hearing is guaranteed by Section 36 of the Constitution and Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights Act. What this implies is that before you can take action against me, you must give me the right to make a representation,” he said.

The senior lawyer further called on the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar to intervene on the matter