Senior Advocate of Nigeria and human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has initiated legal proceedings against former military Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida, following his recent admission that the June 12, 1993 presidential election was won by the late Moshood Abiola.
Babangida’s revelation, contained in his newly released book, A Journey in Service: An Autobiography, has reignited long-standing debates over the controversial annulment of what was widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest election.
Falana, who was imprisoned at the time for protesting the annulment, described his incarceration as malicious prosecution and argued that Babangida’s recent acknowledgment confirms that there was no legal or moral basis for his detention.
“He [Babangida] has now admitted there was no basis for my prosecution because he now says Abiola won the election, which was the basis for our protest. It was malicious,” Falana stated during an interview on Channels Television on Tuesday night.
The senior lawyer further disclosed that he has assembled a legal team to examine past actions of the former military leader and explore avenues for legal redress.
Contradictions in Babangida’s Justification
Falana also challenged Babangida’s claim that the annulment of the election was carried out without his knowledge, describing it as an attempt to rewrite history.
He cited the former military ruler’s June 26, 1993, nationwide broadcast, where he justified the annulment on grounds of alleged corruption and electoral malpractice.
“On June 26, Babangida made a nationwide address justifying the annulment, and on June 22, he had already set aside the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal led by Justice Bola Babalakin. How then does he claim the decision was beyond him?” Falana questioned.
He also dismissed Babangida’s previous justification that the election was annulled for national interest, pointing out that the former ruler never attributed the decision to pressure from General Sani Abacha, who later seized power in 1993.
Seeking Justice for Unlawful Detention
Recounting his ordeal, Falana emphasized that his imprisonment in Kuje Prison violated his fundamental rights, including his liberty, freedom of movement and right to political participation.
“The man who kept me in prison has now admitted that the basis for our protest was legitimate. I was denied my rights because of a decision that Babangida himself now admits was unjust,” he said.
The development has sparked fresh discussions over the legality of the June 12 annulment and the possibility of holding past military regimes accountable for political repression and human rights violations.
While Babangida has yet to respond to Falana’s latest statements, legal analysts believe that the case, if pursued, could set a precedent for addressing historical injustices linked to military rule in Nigeria.
