Human rights lawyer Femi Falana and the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, have issued a warning to lawyers, urging them to refrain from aiding their clients in punishing landlords.
This caution was conveyed during the advocacy program titled, “Building Collapse and Application of Punitive Laws in Lagos State,” organized by the Building Collapse Prevention Guild in Ikeja Chapter, in collaboration with the Nigerian Bar Association, Ikeja branch, Lagos State.
Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, called upon lawyers not to support their clients in taking punitive actions against landlords. He emphasized the need for legal practitioners to exercise caution and uphold the law, stating that they must avoid becoming agents of impunity.
He recounted a recent incident where a client sought his assistance after losing a case at the Magistrate court. Falana inquired whether the client had been fulfilling his rent obligations, to which the client admitted that he had not paid rent for the past two years but still wanted to appeal the case. Falana underscored the responsibility of lawyers to act responsibly and ethically.
Furthermore, Falana highlighted a disturbing trend in Lagos where frustrated tenants report buildings to the Ministry of Environment, which results in notices being issued for demolition. In some instances, landlords even resort to removing the roof of a house to force tenants out.
Lawal Pedro, the Lagos State Attorney-General, also addressed the issue, emphasizing that landlord and tenancy disputes should not be protracted for extended periods. He questioned the practicality of a tenant not paying rent while refusing to vacate the property, leading to cases dragging on for years.
Pedro shared the collaborative efforts of the Nigerian Bar Association and the Ministry of Justice to establish clear and comprehensive laws for all to understand. He also expressed the intent to address the problem of self-help that individuals often resort to for rent, debt, and possession recovery due to the slow pace of the justice system.
In conclusion, Pedro stressed the objective of ensuring that cases in the state would not extend beyond 24 months in court through the collaborative efforts of the judiciary and the Ministry of Justice.
