By Capital Watch Media
Renowned human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has announced plans to take legal action against former military head of state, General Ibrahim Babangida (retd), over alleged human rights abuses.
Falana revealed this during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, where he accused Babangida of maliciously prosecuting him and others during his military regime.
“I’m going to challenge my malicious prosecution and that of my colleagues,” Falana stated.
The human rights lawyer was one of several activists jailed in the early 1990s for protesting Babangida’s annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest election.
The election was won by the late Chief MKO Abiola, but Babangida’s military government annulled the results, sparking widespread protests and political unrest.
Falana and other activists were arrested, charged, and imprisoned at Kuje Correctional Facility for opposing the annulment and challenging the extension of Babangida’s military regime.
“We were fighting for the restoration of democracy and opposing the postponement of his transition programme,” Falana recalled.
Babangida recently released a book, Journey in Service, where he admitted the annulled election was indeed won by Abiola and expressed regret for not handing over to a civilian government as planned.
Reacting to this revelation, Falana said Babangida’s admission strengthened his case for seeking legal redress.
“Because he [IBB] has now admitted there was no basis for my prosecution, it was clearly malicious,” Falana asserted.
He explained that his team of lawyers is currently reviewing the legal framework for the case and would proceed based on the evidence available.
Falana accused the former military leader of violating his fundamental human rights, including the right to liberty, freedom of movement, and political participation.
“When you keep me in Kuje prison, you deny me my right to liberty and my freedom of movement,” he argued.
He further stated that Babangida’s actions undermined his right to choose the government of his country, a right the annulled June 12 election sought to uphold.
Falana reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring justice and holding the former head of state accountable for his actions.
“My legal team is already on this, and we will pursue it to a logical conclusion,” he added.
