- He said he was assembling a team of lawyer to help him seek redress in court over the injustice that was meted out to him during Babangida’s military regime
A human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, says he will sue General Ibrahim Babangida, rtd, over alleged human rights abuse during the struggle for the restoration of democracy and the third republic in early 1990s.
He said he was assembling a team of lawyer to help him seek redress in court over the injustice that was meted out to him during Babangida’s military regime.
Femi Falana, a senior advocate of Nigeria, was one of the key players in the June 12 struggle and one of those who were jailed by the former head of state, Babangida during his time as military head of state.
Falana and others were arrested, charged to court and thrown into the Kuje prison for challenging the military government for nullifying the June 12, 1993 election.
They also protested IBB’s decision to extend the terminal date of his military regime. They were, however, granted bail and released.
General Babangida recently launched a book about his military and political journey so far, entitled, ‘Journey in Service’.
In the book, he made some revelations, one of which was the outcome of the June 12 presidential election which he annulled.
He admitted that the election was free and fair and won by late MKO Abiola.
Ibrahim Babangida also said he regretted not handing over to a civilian government on the stipulated date.
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.’ “
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