Renowned human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has announced plans to take legal action against former Military President, Ibrahim Babangida (IBB), over what he describes as his wrongful detention and prosecution during Babangida’sregime.
Falana’s decision follows revelations in Babangida’s new book, where the former military leader addressed the controversial annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election—widely regarded as Nigeria’s most credible poll.
Recalling his ordeal, Falana stated that he, alongside other pro-democracy activists such as the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi and Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti, was arrested and charged with sedition for publishing the annulled election results. He described how they were detained under harsh conditions despite clear evidence that the election was free and fair.
According to Falana, IBB personally signed the decree that nullified the election on June 26, 1993, dissolving the Presidential Election Tribunal that had ruled in favor of the results. “Now, he wants to pretend that external forces made the decision, but he exercised that power against the people’s will,” Falana said.
Following the annulment, mass protests led by the Campaign for Democracy erupted nationwide, prompting Babangida to order the arrest of key activists. Falana and others were paraded before a court in Wuse, Abuja, and subsequently imprisoned under the infamous Decree No. 2.
Reflecting on the injustice, Falana said, “IBB jailed us thinking it would stop the protests, but it only strengthened the movement.” Now, over 30 years later, he insists that Babangida’s recent admission that MKO Abiola won the election proves that the arrests and prosecutions were malicious.
