Human rights activist and constitutional lawyer, Femi Falana, is under pressure to speak on the alleged forged certificate presented by President Bola Tinubu to the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC).
Chronicle NG reports that Tinubu has rejected claims that he forged a certificate received from the Chicago State University (CSU) after the Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar challenged the school to provide evidence that Tinubu graduated from the institution.
In what appears to be a coordinated agenda on Wednesday, supporters of Abubakar and those of Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate have been sharing a message on social media asking Falana to react to the certificate forgery allegation.
In the message circulated on X formerly Twitter, they claimed that the human rights lawyer would not speak to the certificate conundrum because he had once defended Tinubu.
The supporters of Abubakar and Obi claimed that Falana has been silent because he once defended Tinubu when the issue of certificate forgery first arose.
Peter Obi Grassroots Mobilization posted, “For those asking about the silence of Femi Falana on the Tinubu’s certificate saga, you will recall that in 2002, when Chief Gani Fawehinmi SAN dragged Tinubu to court over his certificate forgery, Femi Falana (SAN) and Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) defended Tinubu even at the Supreme Court. Despite that Bola Tinubu was found guilty of forgery and perjury per his claim of B.Sc. Economics from the same Chicago State University, and Government College Ibadan, the Nigerian Supreme Court protected Mr Tinubu on grounds of Immunity.
“Since the 2023 General election fraud committed by Tinubu, APC, and INEC, the senior advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana hasn’t said a word regarding that fraudulent election. As the Chicago State University forgery certificate of Tinubu comes up again, Femi Falana has maintained his silence, you will be shocked by Femi Falana SAN receiving an appointment from Tinubu’s illegitimate Government very soon.
“Very disheartening, many Nigerians respect and look up to these characters who are not interested in the public good but rather, their stomach with a little touch of fake public sympathy.”
However, some persons have held briefs for Falana. On X, Amourab explained why the outspoken lawyer could not comment on the CSU saga. “I think Femi Falana has client-lawyer privileges. He cannot utter a word on it and must maintain silence because it is forbidden. How will this make his other clients feel? That their lawyer can sing and divulge privileged information at any time.”
