Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has declared his intention to take Retired General Ibrahim Babangida to court for alleged human rights violations.
Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, was among those arrested and jailed by Babangida during his time as military head of state. They were detained for challenging Babangida’s decision to annul the June 12, 1993 election and extend the terminal date of his military regime. Despite being released on bail, Falana and others have not forgotten the injustice they faced.
Babangida recently published a book titled ‘Journey in Service’, in which he made revelations about his military and political career. He admitted regret for annulling the free and fair June 12 election, which was won by late MKO Abiola.
Falana and his colleagues are determined to hold Babangida accountable for his actions.
Falana, who appeared on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, argued that it was majorly for these two reasons IBB maliciously prosecuted him, vowing to return to court.
“I”m going to challenge my malicious prosecution and that of my colleagues,” he said
On whether he wants to prosecute General Babangida for something that happened during his time as military head of state, Felana added, “I’ve assembled a team of lawyers, they’re looking into it.
He said, “Because he [IBB] has now brought it to life by now admitting there was no basis for my prosecution because he now says, Abiola won the election which was the basis for our protest.
“He’s also saying he shouldn’t have postponed the terminal date of his transition programme of which we were fighting for which means there was no basis for my prosecution. It was malicious.
“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 man who did has just come out to say, ‘I did it wrongly.’ “
