Femi Falana Reveals Why Son Falz Embarrasses Nigerian Government

Renowned human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has revealed that his son, popular rapper Folarin Falana, also known as Falz, has been a vocal critic of the government because of his upbringing.

Speaking at the 2nd anniversary of the Oluyinka Odumakin Lecture in Lagos on Sunday, Falana explained that his frequent arrests as a legal practitioner used to worry his son when he was younger.

Falz used to question whether his father was a criminal, given how often he was arrested.

Falz

Falana made this known following the release of Falz’s latest song ‘Yakubu’ which features rapper Vector.

“One of these guys one day said, ‘Falana talk to your son; he should stop embarrassing the government’.

“I said which government? You mean that boy who is an adult? Can I give you his number so you can talk to him?

“But be careful because when that boy was growing up, I was being arrested from time to time.

“So, the only language he understood was detention, arrest and the rest of them."

Falana went on to explain that when Falz was six years old, he asked his mother, “Our teacher taught us that only criminals were arrested. Is my father a criminal? Why is he always being arrested?”

Femi Falana (SAN)

At the time, Falana was frequently being arrested by the government.

His wife had to explain that in Nigeria, during the military rule, only two types of people were arrested: criminals and political suspects.

“And the mother had to say that in Nigeria, under the military, only two sets of people were arrested: criminal suspects and political suspects.

“Political suspects are those who are out to expose the criminality of the government. That is what you see going on.”