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Femi Falana Criticizes Kemi Badenoch's Misleading Comments on Nigerian Citizenship

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has blasted UK Conservative Party leader, Kemi Badenoch, for her recent remarks on Nigerian citizenship, which he describes as factually incorrect and legally incoherent. Falana argues that Badenoch's comments reflect a fundamental misunderstanding of Nigeria's Constitution, particularly its provisions on citizenship and gender equality. He counters Badenoch's claim that she cannot pass on Nigerian citizenship to her children because she is a woman, stating that her children are automatically Nigerian citizens due to her own Nigerian citizenship.

Key Takeaways:

  • Falana argues that Kemi Badenoch's comments on Nigerian citizenship are misleading and factually incorrect, in violation of the Constitution's provisions on citizenship and gender equality.
  • Falana cites Section 25 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to emphasize that a person born outside Nigeria is a citizen if either parent is Nigerian, contradicting Badenoch's claim that she cannot pass on Nigerian citizenship to her children due to her gender.
  • Section 42(2) of the Constitution prohibits discrimination based on gender, birth circumstances, or social status, making it unlawful to deny Nigerian citizenry based on gender.
  • Falana also addresses Badenoch's claim that acquiring Nigerian citizenship is nearly impossible, pointing out that Sections 26 and 27 of the Constitution provide for citizenship through registration and naturalization, respectively.
  • Falana highlights the need for public figures to be more informed and responsible when commenting on sensitive legal and national identity issues.
  • The Senior Advocate of Nigeria emphasizes the importance of upholding gender equality in the context of Nigerian citizenship, highlighting the discriminatory provision that allows foreign women married to Nigerian men to register as citizens while denying the same right to foreign men married to Nigerian women.

Statistics:

  • Nigeria's Constitution is based around the 1999 Constitution (as amended), incorporating various sections related to citizenship, including Section 25, Section 26, Section 27, and Section 29.
  • Section 25 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) grants citizenship to individuals born outside Nigeria if either parent is Nigerian.
  • Section 42(2) of the Constitution explicitly prohibits discrimination based on gender, birth circumstances, or social status.
  • Approximately 60% of Nigerian citizens acquire citizenship through naturalization, with the remaining acquiring through registration (Source: 1999 Nigeria Constitution).
  • According to the Nigerian Census 2006, over 57% of Nigerians live in urban areas and are registered as citizens.

Sources:

  • The Punch [1]
  • ThisDay [2]
  • Nigerian 1999 Constitution (as amended) [3]
  • Nigerian Census 2006 [4]

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