Senior Advocate of Nigeria and human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, has clapped back at FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, describing him as a ceremonial lawyer with no track record in courtroom advocacy.

The face-off between the two heavyweights was reignited after Wike took a swipe at Falana during a media briefing, accusing him of lying on national television about the Supreme Court’s handling of the Rivers Assembly defection saga. Wike even went as far as calling Falana a “television lawyer” who lost the case and was now peddling falsehoods.

But Falana, known for his fiery intellect and calm courtroom demeanor, wasn\'t letting that slide.

In a strongly worded statement titled “I Did Not Lie Against the Supreme Court of Nigeria”, Falana defended his record, noting that losing a case isn’t a mark of failure, but part of legal practice — except for “corrupt lawyers who win all cases in all courts.”

He clarified that his commentary on the defection of 27 PDP lawmakers to the APC was based on facts, not fiction, adding that there’s affidavit and video evidence confirming the mass defection — evidence that Wike himself once danced over during a thanksgiving celebration.

Falana also accused Wike of attempting to turn the judiciary against him through sensational claims. “If Mr. Wike truly believes I’ve violated professional conduct, he should take it up with the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee,” he challenged.

Then came the real jab: “Mr. Wike is the only Life Bencher in Nigeria who has never argued a single case in any trial or appellate court.” A punchline that has since set off fireworks across the legal and political spheres.

Referencing constitutional protections under Section 39 and the African Charter, Falana maintained his right to critique court judgments, noting that great jurists of the past welcomed such intellectual engagement.

He warned that the latest Supreme Court position on defection — demanding party registers to prove cross-carpeting — could embolden shameless political switchers and destabilize the democratic process.

While Wike continues his public grandstanding, Falana has made it clear: he won’t be intimidated into silence, nor will he allow the judiciary to be used as a tool for political vendettas.

And with this latest exchange, the battle lines between the activist lawyer and the fiery minister are clearly drawn — in bold ink.