Renowned human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, has vowed to challenge what he describes as his “malicious” detention alongside late Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN) and three others during the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida (retd.).
Speaking on Channels TV on Tuesday, Falana revealed that he and his colleagues were persecuted for opposing the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, which was won by Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola.
He described their detention, prosecution, and trial as deliberate, adding that he has now assembled a legal team to seek redress.
Falana lamented that 32 years later, Babangida now admitted to regretting the annulment of the election.
He stated that Babangida deliberately nullified the election results and arrested, detained, charged and paraded them as criminals.
Recalling the events of 1993, Falana narrated how he and his colleagues were taken to the Gwagwalada Chief Magistrate Court and charged with treasonable felony.
He disclosed that, since they had no access to legal representation, he and the late Gani Fawehinmi defended themselves and their colleagues in court.
The human rights lawyer insisted that Babangida’s actions had long-term consequences for Nigeria’s democracy, adding that he is now seeking legal redress for the wrongful prosecution.
Falana said, “Even though we were asking for bail, we turned our arraignment to the trial of junta. And I recalled on that occasion, Chief Fawehinmi told the judge, Chief Magistrate Mallam Bulama that those who should be standing trial for treason, should be in the dock were in the Villa, led by General Babangida.
“Because they had sacked, they had overthrown a democratically elected government on December 31, 1983. So, those are the people that should be standing trial. And of course, when it came to my turn, I made it clear to the judge, this section of the law, Section 41 of the Criminal Code Act, which provides anybody who forms an intention to remove the president of his country, during his term of office, otherwise than by constitutional means.
“I said, my lord? The man calling himself my president has no fixed term of office. So, I couldn’t have been brought here. Of course, the judge adjourned. Two weeks later, he granted us bail very liberally, N20,000 and one surety in like sum.”
The human rights lawyer noted that Babangida’s regime could not stand another proceeding.
“They couldn’t go back to court, so that we don’t turn the thing into a full trial of General Babangida and others. So, it simply ran away,” he said.
He added that the case was struck out.
