Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has clarified that neither governors nor ministers in Nigeria have constitutional authority to demolish buildings without following due legal procedures.
Falana emphasized that Section 43 of the 1999 Constitution guarantees every Nigerian the right to acquire and live in property anywhere in the country.
During an interview with Arise TV, monitored by The News Chronicle on Saturday, Falana explained that before any building can be demolished, statutory notices must be served and proper administrative panels must be established to address complaints from affected individuals.
According to him, if these complaints are not satisfactorily resolved, it is only the designated appeal committee not political office holders that has the power to authorize such demolitions.
The senior lawyer stressed that government officials who order demolitions without due process violate constitutional rights and can be held accountable in court.
