Alleged Treason Claims Against Obi, Datti Senseless — Falana

• Says comments do not violate Section 37 of criminal code 

Senior Nigerian lawyer and human rights activist, Mr Femi Falana has rubbished claims by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration that the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi and his running mate, Baba Datti-Ahmed are engaging in subversive acts against the Nigerian state

According to Falana, the government’s so-called charge of treason against the Labour presidential ticket does not hold water because Section 37 of the Criminal Code Act is clear and the two personalities have not infracted it by their recent utterances, regardless of the political optics.

The Senior Advocate of Nigerian (SAN), while dismissing the government’s charge, said, “Messrs Peter Obi and Datti Ahmed have approached the court to challenge the results of the presidential election in line with the provisions of the Constitution and the Electoral Act.

“The law provides that the persons declared by INEC to have won the elections shall be sworn in pending the determination of the election petitions. The law prescribes 180 days (6 months) for hearing election petitions and 60 days (two months) for appeals arising from the decisions of trial courts or tribunals.”

He said there should be no fears because constitutionally, “All elected candidates, including Labour Party elected members, are going to be sworn in on May 29.”

Specifically referring to Datti’s comments that have heightened the political temperature in the country, Mr Falana said expression of one’s opinion, doesn’t amount to treason, adding; “Whoever says inauguration will not hold is merely expressing his or her opinion.

“It is not treason to express one’s personal opinion. By virtue of section 37 of the Criminal Code Act, treason occurs when any person levies war against the State, in order to intimidate or overawe the President or the Governor of a State. Any person found guilty of treason, and is liable to the punishment of death.”

The leading rights lawyer’s comment is coming on the heels of Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Moahmmed’s allegations in faraway Washington, United States that Obi and Datti are plotting violent change of government in Nigeria by not accepting the outcome of the February 25 presidential poll.

In particular, the Labour Party’s Vice Presidential candidate, Datti Ahmed has made news in the media space with his remarks that the presidential poll’s winner as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, would not be sworn in on May 29, 2023