Renowned human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has publicly rebuked UK Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch over her claim that she cannot pass Nigerian citizenship to her children because she is a woman.
Badenoch made the controversial statement during an interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria on Sunday, arguing that it is “virtually impossible” to obtain Nigerian citizenship. She stated, “I have that citizenship by virtue of my parents. I can’t give it to my children because I’m a woman.” She went on to contrast this with what she described as the ease with which Nigerians acquire British citizenship.
The remarks quickly sparked backlash, with Falana issuing a strong response on Monday, describing her comments as a “display of utter ignorance” and accusing her of misrepresenting Nigeria to appeal to British voters.
“In her desperate attempt to impress the British electorate, Kemi Badenoch keeps running down Nigeria,” Falana said. “Contrary to her misleading claim, her children are Nigerians because she is a Nigerian.”
He cited Section 25(b) and (c) of the Nigerian Constitution, which states that a person born outside Nigeria to a Nigerian parent—whether mother or father—is automatically a citizen. Falana added that Section 42(2) of the same Constitution prohibits discrimination based on gender, birth circumstances, or social status.
“Therefore, her children are Nigerian citizens, regardless of whether she wants them to claim it or not. For now, they are dual citizens of Britain and Nigeria,” he affirmed.
Falana also corrected Badenoch’s assertion that Nigerian citizenship is inaccessible to foreigners. “Sections 26 and 27 of the Constitution clearly provide pathways for foreigners to become citizens through registration or naturalisation, once they meet the legal requirements,” he said.
However, the senior lawyer did acknowledge a shortcoming in the citizenship law, noting that while foreign women married to Nigerian men can acquire citizenship through registration, the same is not currently extended to foreign men married to Nigerian women.
“This reflects the patriarchal bias of the law, and it should be urgently amended,” Falana stated.
His response has reignited conversations about citizenship, gender equality, and political narratives in the diaspora, with many Nigerians calling on public figures to speak more responsibly about their country on international platforms.
Leave a comment