Human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, has declared that the recent waves of house demolitions in Abuja and Lagos are illegal and unconstitutional.

In a television interview on Friday, Falana stated that no governor or minister holds the power to demolish any house without first obtaining a valid court order. He condemned the reported midnight demolitions, describing them as a “gross violation of the rule of law and an affront to the judiciary.”

“Under our constitutional arrangement, you must go to court to prove that a building violates the law before demolition can be authorised,” Falana asserted.

He further pointed out that both Lagos and Abuja have existing Urban and Regional Planning laws which mandate a clear procedure for demolitions, including issuing statutory notices and providing affected persons the right to appeal. By bypassing these legal channels, Falana argued, the authorities are acting outside the bounds of the law.