Renowned human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has vowed to take legal action against former military head of state, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd), over alleged human rights abuses committed during his regime.
Falana, who was among those jailed under Babangida’s military rule, announced his intention to challenge what he described as his “malicious prosecution” and unjust imprisonment. He made this known during an interview on Channels Television’s *Politics Today* on Tuesday.
The lawyer, along with several other activists, was arrested, charged to court, and detained in Kuje Prison for protesting against the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election. They had also opposed Babangida’s decision to extend the terminal date of his military regime. Though they were later granted bail and released, Falana insists that the detention was a violation of their fundamental rights.
General Babangida recently launched a book titled Journey in Service, detailing his experiences in the military and political spheres. The book contains revelations about key moments of his administration, including the controversial annulment of the June 12 election.
In a significant admission, Babangida acknowledged that the June 12, 1993, election was free and fair and that it was won by the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola. He also expressed regret over his failure to hand over power to a civilian government as originally scheduled.
Reacting to Babangida’s admissions, Falana argued that these statements reinforce the injustice done to him and other activists who were arrested for protesting the annulment. He declared his intention to return to court to seek redress.
“I’m going to challenge my malicious prosecution and that of my colleagues,” Falana said, emphasizing that Babangida’s own words prove that their detention had no legal or moral justification.
When asked whether it was legally possible to prosecute Babangida for actions taken while he was a military head of state, Falana revealed that he had already assembled a team of lawyers to explore all legal options.
“I’ve assembled a team of lawyers, they’re looking into it,” he stated. “Because he [IBB] has now brought it to life by admitting there was no basis for my prosecution since he now says Abiola won the election, which was the basis for our protest.”
He further argued that Babangida’s admission that he should not have postponed the transition programme also proves that Falana and other activists were right to resist his military rule.
“It was malicious,” Falana insisted. “Again, massive infringement of my human rights. Because when you keep me in Kuje prison, you deny me my right to liberty, my freedom of movement, and you also violate my right to choose the government of my country.”
The senior lawyer asserted that Babangida’s public confession provides strong grounds for seeking legal redress. “The man who did it has just come out to say, ‘I did it wrongly,’” he concluded.
