By Abiola Olawale
Prominent Nigerian human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana has declared his intention to file legal action against former military president General Ibrahim Babangida (retd.) over the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election.
This development follows Babangida’s recent admissions, in his autobiography, A Journey in Service, launched on February 20, 2025, where he acknowledged that the election, widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest, was evidently won by Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola and expressed regret for its cancellation.
Falana, who was detained and prosecuted for opposing the annulment during Babangida’s regime, said these revelations are an opportunity to seek justice for what he described as malicious prosecution and significant human rights violations.
It would be recalled that following the annulment of the June 12 presidential election, nationwide protests erupted.
Falana, alongside other activists like the late legal luminary and foremosr Himan Rights activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN) and Dr Beko Ransome-Kuti, were arrested during the “IBB Must Go” campaign and charged with a treasonable felony.
Speaking during an interview with Channels TV, Falana argued that Babangida’s recent admission that Abiola won the election and that there was no basis for postponing the transition to civilian rule effectively validates the activists’ protests and renders their detention unjust.
He contended that the annulment, backed by a series of decrees signed by Babangida, was a deliberate act to undermine democracy, and the subsequent crackdown on dissenters violated fundamental rights, including liberty and freedom of expression.
He further disclosed that he has assembled a team of lawyers to explore legal options, emphasizing that Babangida’s confessions have “brought the matter back to life” after 32 years.
He declared: “I’ve assembled a team of lawyers, they’re looking into it. 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, 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 and 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.”
