Following his death, there have been calls for investigations to unravel the circumstances behind the musician’s death.

Falana noted that he visited the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Idowu Owohunwa, adding that he (Owohunwa) had been assured that investigation had been launched.

“The young widow of Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, also known as Mohbad, visited our office yesterday (Tuesday) to seek support in pursuing justice for her late husband.

“While sympathising with her and the entire Aloba family, we assured her of our unalloyed commitment to ensure that the circumstances of the unfortunate death of the Nigerian rapper, singer and songwriter were unearthed.

“Thereafter, we held a meeting with the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Idowu Owohunwa, in respect of the investigation being conducted by the police in respect of the matter. The CP furnished me with the progress made so far in the investigation.

“We commend Nigerian youths for protesting peacefully and demanding justice. I assure them and other concerned citizens that we shall collaborate with the coroner to expose those who are remotely and directly responsible for the suspicious death of Mohbad.”

Falana conveyed his observations during an interview on Channels TV Politics.

He emphasized that the judiciary is currently confronting an unprecedented wave of blackmail and intimidation, particularly in anticipation of the forthcoming judgment by the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC), also known as the tribunal, scheduled to be delivered in Abuja on Wednesday.

Falana expressed, “Some of the people involved are voting for the first time, and they believe rightly or wrongly that their candidate must be declared the winner, and I think this is what is going on.”

He underscored that election petitions have been a part of Nigeria’s history since the colonial era but lamented that none have previously experienced such a high level of blackmail and intimidation targeting the judiciary.

Addressing the situation, Falana expressed concern about the misconception that the entire electoral process hinges solely on the judgment of the Court of Appeal and the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.

He clarified,  “I am worried that people give the impression that everything ends with the judgement of the Court of Appeal, the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal. Any party that loses on Wednesday still has the opportunity to appeal to the Supreme Court. So, what is the basis for the cheap blackmail that is going on?”

Concluding his remarks, Falana urged judges not to be swayed by intimidation, emphasizing that they must uphold their duty to examine the evidence, apply the law, and deliver a decision based on their conviction.

He reassured that even in the face of election disputes, those who feel aggrieved by the judgment of the Court of Appeal have the option to seek redress at the Supreme Court, demonstrating any perceived errors in the appellate court’s decision.

He emphasizes the importance of using the naira to pay for imported goods from China.

In a statement shared with the media on Monday, Falana highlighted a significant currency exchange agreement between Nigeria and China that took place five years ago.

This agreement, valued at RMB 16 billion (equivalent to N720 billion), aimed to ensure sufficient local currency availability for both Nigerian and Chinese industries and businesses. Its purpose was to alleviate challenges related to sourcing United States Dollars.

The currency swap was also meant to enhance transaction speed, convenience, and volume between the two nations.

However, Falana revealed that the Central Bank of Nigeria, under the influence of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, hindered the success of this currency swap initiative.

Using the Freedom of Information Act, Falana recently communicated with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to verify the status of the currency swap agreement between Nigeria and China.

Despite receiving confirmation that the agreement remains valid, the CBN still restricts Nigerians from conducting transactions in China using the naira.

This situation has prompted Falana to urge Nigerian businesses to stand firm on conducting transactions in naira, including payments for goods imported from China.

In an interview on Channels Television, Falana confirmed that he has filed a lawsuit against the CBN in response to its directive to Deposit Money Banks to allow the Naira to float freely against international currencies, including the dollar.

The policy was introduced in June when the Naira’s exchange rate at the Investors and Exporters (I&E) window ranged between 730 and 755 to the dollar.

Falana criticized the CBN’s decision to float the Naira as unlawful and is contesting it in court. He explained that the move contradicts the law and asserted, “There’s no provision for floating the Naira. It’s illegal.”

Falana elaborated that Section 16 of the Central Bank Act obligates the CBN to determine the Naira’s exchange rate against other currencies.

The prominent lawyer highlighted that the CBN Act mandates the apex bank to set the exchange rate. He emphasized that only currency notes issued by the Central Bank, specifically the Naira, are recognized as legal tender in Nigeria.

Falana cited Section 20(5) of the Act, which states that using any other currency without the central bank’s approval constitutes an offense punishable by up to six months’ imprisonment.

Falana also voiced his belief that unless government officials commit to bolstering the Naira’s value and establishing it as the sole legal tender in Nigeria, the country’s economic progress will be impeded.

Regarding the Federal Government’s allocation of N5 billion to each state and the Federal Capital Territory for food distribution to the underprivileged, Falana criticized these measures as temporary and diversionary.

He maintained that these initiatives fail to address the root cause of the crisis, which he identified as the growing dollarization of the economy.

Falana argued that any relief efforts announced would be outweighed by the broader economic impact of dollarization.

The SAN, who confirmed the development said the singer had enough evidence to defend himself.

This was as the Police Service Commission demanded the immediate prosecution of the musician, saying  no one had the right to assault a policeman in uniform and on official duty, no matter the offence committed by police officer.

Falana said, “I am his (Seun Kuti’s) lawyer and he has briefed me. He certainly has evidence. This is not the first time he is dealing with the police.”

There were also speculations on Sunday that a team of police officers drafted to effect Kuti’s arrest could not locate him upon getting to his residence.

However, efforts to confirm the development from the police authorities proved abortive, as the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, and the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, did not respond to inquiries by our correspondent.

Falana while reacting to this disclosed that the embattled singer would turn himself in on Monday.

He added, “He (Seun) is going to report himself to the police tomorrow (Monday) morning. There is no problem at all.”

a viral video of the musician assaulting a police officer on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos State went viral on Saturday.

In the 12-second video, Kuti, who wore a red shirt and white pair of trousers, was seen pushing a policeman, who stood beside a Toyota Hilux police van. He then proceeded to slap the cop, as he shouted, “You dey craze, you dey mad?”

A motorist, who filmed the incident from his car, was heard saying, “Omo na Kuti o. Na better news be this o.”

The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, reacting, ordered the arrest of the singer.

The IG equally ordered a speedy and full investigation into the remote and immediate cause(s) of the alleged assault and prosecution of the suspect accordingly.

This was as the musician, in a social media post on Saturday, alleged that the policeman in question made an attempt on his life and those of his family members.

The PSC Chairman, Dr Solomon Arase, a retired Inspector-General of Police, said Seun’s arraignment would serve as a deterrent to other citizens, adding that no one has the right to assault a policeman in uniform and on official duty, no matter the offence committed by police officer.

The Head, Press and Public Relations, PSC, Ikechukwu Ani, in a statement on Sunday,  said, “The commission demands that the culprit must be arraigned immediately and that the Inspector General must ensure that the matter is followed to its logical conclusion to restore public confidence in the Nigeria Police as the lead agency in internal security and in its ability to maintain law and order and also protect lives and properties.

“We look forward to the prompt prosecution of Seun to act as a deterrent to others of his ilk.”

Arase commended the police officer for refusing to be provoked by the action of his aggressor, a development he said would have been more fatal.

“The PSC chairman said it was unfortunate that at a time the management of the Nigeria Police were dealing decisively with officers who harass, intimidate or assault civilians on our roads and work places, the same police officers have become victims of the actions of some uncultured elites.

“He said the police should use the present incident to set an example that this will never be tolerated in Nigeria, a country governed by laws, rules and regulations.”

Falana also demanded that the apex bank reveal the names of customers who may have withdrawn more money over the N100,000 limit authorized by the CBN in a letter dated February 16, 2023.

The CBN has insisted that enough new notes have been issued despite the fact that old N200, N500, and N1,000 notes have remained scarce since the currency swap scheme was implemented. CBN governor Godwin Emefiele has accused politicians of hoarding the new notes.

Yet in a letter from Falana Chambers written by Femi Adedeji, ESQ, the senior attorney asked that the central bank provide specifics on how the new notes were issued to commercial banks, threatening to take the CBN to court if it failed to do so within seven days.

The letter read, “Our attention has been drawn to your statement wherein you claimed that some unnamed politicians have mopped up the new Naira notes made available to all commercial banks by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“We are compelled to request you to furnish us with information concerning the amount of the designed notes of N200, N500 and N1,000 denominations made available to each commercial bank by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“Furthermore, we also request you to furnish us with the list of customers of the commercial banks who collected more than N100,000 approved by you from the commercial banks.

“As this request is made pursuant to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2011, you are required to accede to our request within 7 days of the receipt of this letter.

“TAKE NOTICE that if you fail or refuse to furnish us with the requested information before the deadline of 7 days we shall not hesitate to pray the Federal High Court to compel you to accede to our request.”

He, however, threatened to commence contempt proceedings against the public officers in charge of the petroleum industry.

Falana, in a statement, said: “With respect, the purported deregulation of the product was illegally pushed out by the Buhari administration.

“It is common knowledge that the Federal Government, through the NNPC is the sole importer of fuel into the country, claiming to be subsidising the product. So, how can the Federal Government turn around to allow private companies or the so-called market forces to fix the price of the same product?

“In July 2020, Chief Sylva said that an alternative source of fuel, Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, would cost between N95 to N97 per litre, to make fuel more affordable in the country. About a year later, it was disclosed by the Minister that as part of efforts to ensure that the autogas conversion of vehicles yielded the desired results, the Federal Government had set aside N250 billion for willing investors in autogas assembly plants in the country.

The Federal Government should tell Nigerians why the migration from PMS to CNG has been abandoned.

“However, contrary to Chief Sylva’s claim, the Federal Government is legally obligated by the combined effect of Section 4 of the Price Control Act and section 316 of the Petroleum Industry Act to determine and fix the prices of petroleum products including premium motor spirit, kerosene and cooking gas.

“Given the clear statutory provisions and decided cases on the illegality of the deregulation of any aspect of the petroleum industry the Federal Government should stop subjecting the Nigerian people to the excruciating economic crisis by allowing the so-called market forces to determine and fix the prices of petroleum products in the country.

“We call on President Muhammadu Buhari, as the Minister of Petroleum Resources, to call Chief Sylva to order for treating the valid and subsisting judgments of the Federal High Court and the Supreme Court with contempt. Otherwise, we shall not hesitate to commence contempt proceedings against the public officers in charge of the petroleum industry.”

This is in accordance with human rights attorney Femi Falana (SAN), who condemned the recent murder of lawyer Mrs. Bolanle Raheem in Ajah, who was based in Lagos.

Raheem met an unexpected end when Drambi Vandi, a police officer with a gun in his hand, fatally shot her on Christmas Day. Many Nigerians are outraged by her death, and President Muhammadu Buhari, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and Inspector General of Police Usman Baba Alkali have all called for an impartial investigation and promised that justice will be done in the case.

Four days after Raheem’s gruesome murder, Falana in a statement said even though the presidential candidates have condemned the incident, they are yet to inform the masses how they will decisively tackle killings by security operatives should they be voted into office.

“President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed shock and complete disapproval of the horrendous killing, even though it is a common phenomenon under his administration,” Falana stated.

“In the same vein, the presidential candidates of the leading political parties have berated the Nigeria Police Force over the killing.

“It is however curious to note that these political leaders have not informed Nigerian voters how they intend to end the extrajudicial killing of unarmed citizens by the police and other security agencies in the county if they win the 2023 presidential election.”

The speaker was criticized by the human rights attorney for contradicting the settlement struck with ASUU.

Falana revealed in a text message to The Punch that a Federal Executive Council member cut short Gbajabiamila’s efforts to resolve issues relating to the government and ASUU strike.

The speaker was accused of misleading the union by ASUU President Professor Emmanuel Osodeke. However, a number of legislators spoke up on Wednesday in support of the speaker.

Falana however said, “It is public knowledge that the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila intervened in the last strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities.  Several meetings were held with the relevant stakeholders by the leadership of the House. While briefing the Nigerian people on the resolution of the crisis on October 10, 2022, the Speaker did categorically state as follows:

“We agreed with ASUU and the government on certain things which we took to Mr President. I have visited the president twice. The first time we made our recommendations with the government shifting some and ASUU shifting some. We spoke with Mr President. There was one sticking issue which was the issue of no work no pay. And the President did ask that he would suggest the recommendations and would have one more meeting which we did on Friday after the budget.

“That meeting was even better than the first one we had with him, and Mr President had agreed to settle things. I am not going to talk about that now, and that he would disclose whatever it is tomorrow,  Tuesday which is tomorrow.”

And when the Federal Government turned around to renege on the vexed issue of “no work, no pay” the Speaker assured the lecturers on October 24, 2022, of his ability to resolve the issues in dispute.

According to Gbajabiamila, “The Executive position that it is not obligated to pay salaries to lecturers for the time spent on strike is premised on the law and the government’s legitimate interest in preventing moral hazard and discouraging disruptive industrial actions.

“Nonetheless, interventions have been made to explore the possibility of partial payments to the lecturers. We look forward to a favourable consideration by His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR who has manifested his desire to what is prudent and necessary to resolve all outstanding issues.”

“From the information at my disposal, the intervention of the House Leadership in resolving the crisis was sabotaged by a member of the Federal Executive Council.

“Having been embarrassed by the circumstance, the Speaker should have apologised to the ASUU and the Nigerian people instead of denying the agreement reached with ASUU and President Buhari on the decision of the Federal Government to pay for the period covered by the strike. The Agreement was based on the commitment of the lecturers to ensure that the 2021/2022 academic session was not cancelled.”