Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has strongly criticized UK Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch over her recent comments on Nigerian citizenship. Falana described Badenoch’s remarks as a display of “utter ignorance” of Nigeria’s legal provisions. Badenoch had claimed that she cannot give Nigerian citizenship to her children because she is a woman and described acquiring Nigerian citizenship as “virtually impossible.”
Falana cited the Nigerian Constitution, clarifying that Badenoch’s children are Nigerian by birth, regardless of their place of birth or their mother’s gender. He referenced Section 25(b) and (c) of the Constitution, which states that every person born outside Nigeria of a Nigerian parent is a Nigerian citizen. This directly contradicts Badenoch’s assertion about her children’s citizenship.
According to Falana, Badenoch’s two children are dual citizens of Nigeria and the United Kingdom. He stated that it is up to the children to renounce their Nigerian citizenship upon attainment of full age in accordance with Section 29 of the Constitution. Falana also refuted Badenoch’s claim that acquiring Nigerian citizenship is “virtually impossible,” stressing that Sections 26 and 27 of the Constitution make clear provisions for foreigners to obtain citizenship.
Falana accused Badenoch of attempting to curry favour with the British electorate at Nigeria’s expense, warning that such misinformation unfairly maligns her country of origin. He noted that while there are gaps in the law that require reform, Badenoch’s comments were not a genuine attempt to highlight these issues, but rather a calculated move to gain political mileage.
