Legal representatives of Hammed Tajudeen Akanbi have strongly criticised Senior Advocate of Nigeria and human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, over his public call for their client’s prosecution on allegations bordering on murder, attempted murder, and destruction of property.
In a rebuttal issued following reports published in several national newspapers on May 10, 2026, Akanbi’s counsel, Mr. Adedotun Ajulo, Esq., described Falana’s intervention as hasty, irresponsible, and lacking legal foundation.
According to Ajulo, Falana’s comments amounted to an attempt to sway public perception and interfere with ongoing investigations through media pressure.
“With due respect, the intervention by the Learned Silk is premature, reckless, and legally indefensible. It falls short of the standard expected from a senior member of the Bar,” the statement said.
The legal team maintained that under Section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution, Akanbi remains innocent until proven guilty by a competent court, noting that investigations into the matter only commenced on April 16, 2026.
Ajulo argued that demanding prosecution before the conclusion of investigations undermines due process and the principles of fair hearing.
He questioned the basis upon which Falana made the allegations, asking whether there was any credible evidence linking Akanbi to the crimes or if the public statements were merely aimed at generating sympathy and public outrage.
The lawyers further claimed there was evidence showing that Akanbi was not in Nigeria on April 18, 2023, and August 26, 2024, the dates when Sheriff Ishola Salami and Prince Akinloye were allegedly killed.
According to the statement, none of the suspects currently standing trial in connection with the killings had implicated Akanbi in their confessional statements or testimonies.
“There is no direct or circumstantial evidence connecting our client with any of the persons facing prosecution in the matter,” the lawyers stated.
Ajulo also dismissed claims that Akanbi had previously been convicted for land grabbing or destruction of property, insisting that no court in Nigeria had ever found him guilty of such offences.
The statement additionally accused former Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Jimoh Moshood, of mishandling the case and abusing legal procedures. The lawyers alleged that Akanbi was declared wanted on February 19, 2026, without prior invitation or a valid court order.
They further claimed that shortly after the declaration, some individuals invaded and vandalised Akanbi’s property in the Ajiran community, while police authorities allegedly ignored petitions supported by photographic and video evidence.
Ajulo disclosed that a petition submitted to the then Inspector-General of Police on February 23, 2026, led to the withdrawal of the case file from Moshood and its transfer to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Alagbon, Lagos, for fresh investigation.
He also stated that a court had earlier nullified an arrest and remand order obtained against Akanbi, while another court reportedly rejected a similar application and instead ordered that the businessman be properly invited rather than arrested arbitrarily.
According to Ajulo, it was based on those court rulings and the reassignment of the investigation that Akanbi returned to Nigeria to cooperate with authorities.
The lawyers, however, described his eventual arrest in Cotonou, Benin Republic, as questionable and contrary to existing court directives.
They also rejected suggestions that Akanbi was a fugitive, arguing that his movements and conduct in Benin Republic did not reflect that of someone evading justice.
“If our client was truly on the run, he would not have moved openly in a foreign country using a Nigerian-registered SUV customised with his name,” the statement added.
The legal team further condemned the public display of Akanbi in handcuffs and leg chains on April 20, 2026, describing it as a calculated media show intended to humiliate him and prejudice public opinion.
Ajulo alleged that another petition later prompted the police authorities to once again remove the case file from Moshood and reassign it within the force hierarchy.
He accused Falana of overlooking major inconsistencies and procedural irregularities while lending support to what he described as a compromised process.
“One would expect a lawyer of his standing to critically examine these contradictions rather than amplify them against a citizen who has not been convicted,” he stated.
The lawyers further suggested that Falana’s public posture raised concerns about possible undisclosed interests influencing his position.
According to the statement, Akanbi would not be subjected to public persecution or sacrificed for media sensationalism, warning that legal action could be taken against individuals spreading false narratives capable of undermining his constitutional rights.
“The criminal justice system must not be turned into a media-driven spectacle controlled by influential voices. Justice must always be guided by evidence, due process, and constitutional safeguards,” the statement concluded.
