Who Would You Hire as Your Lawyer, Falana or Your Paymaster? By Kolawole Olaniyan, PhD
In a country where political loyalty often outweighs legal merit, a fundamental question is gaining urgency: If your freedom, rights, or even life were at stake, who would you choose to defend you — Femi Falana, SAN, or your political paymaster?
This question resonates across Nigeria’s increasingly fragile democratic landscape, where justice is often subordinated to power. For many observers, the answer should be straightforward. Femi Falana has, for decades, distinguished himself as a defender of the oppressed, a voice for the voiceless, and a consistent critic of government excess, regardless of who holds power.
His work spans military and civilian eras, and his name is widely associated with constitutional rights, judicial independence, and fearless advocacy.
However, in recent years, many who once marched with Falana as human rights defenders have aligned themselves with the very political structures they once condemned. Former critics of government now serve quietly in official roles, often unwilling to challenge the status quo.
Their silence in the face of injustice has raised troubling questions about the erosion of integrity in public service.
Observers note a growing pattern where legal professionals and former activists, once vocal against repression, have muted their voices under the weight of political patronage.
Many now serve as aides, advisers, or spokespersons to powerful political figures — and their transformation from watchdogs to loyalists has not gone unnoticed.
The shift has created a credibility crisis. In a country grappling with widespread insecurity, economic instability, and weakening institutions, the absence of principled voices has further deepened public mistrust.
For many Nigerians, especially the youth, the line between activism and opportunism is becoming increasingly blurred.
Legal analysts say the consequences of this shift are dangerous. When lawyers and public figures prioritize allegiance to political benefactors over justice, the system loses both balance and accountability.
The law, rather than being a shield for the weak, becomes a weapon for the powerful. In such an environment, who represents you in court is no longer just a legal decision — it is a test of ethical alignment.
Femi Falana continues to represent an alternative. He remains one of the few public figures still willing to take on the government, challenge the misuse of state power, and demand transparency from those in authority. He has defended student activists, political detainees, and victims of police brutality, often without charge or political calculation.
The contrast between such advocacy and the growing culture of silence among once-outspoken professionals is stark. It reflects a broader struggle for the soul of the Nigerian justice system — and by extension, the Nigerian state.
Many citizens now find themselves asking difficult questions: Who speaks for us? Who defends us when the government overreaches? And in the most personal of moments — when one’s freedom is at risk — who will fight for justice rather than protect political interests?
While political appointees may have access to corridors of power, they often lack the independence to challenge those powers. Falana’s record suggests he would — and has — challenged all forms of impunity, no matter who is in office.
In a nation facing a crisis of conscience, where the lines between public duty and private gain have become dangerously blurred, the choice of who defends you may be the clearest indicator of your values.
As political actors continue to consolidate power and dissenting voices grow fewer, the importance of figures like Femi Falana becomes more pronounced. In the final analysis, when justice is on trial, many Nigerians may find themselves returning to the same question:
Who would you hire as your lawyer — Falana or your paymaster?
