Falana sues FG over ‘rights violation’ during military era, demands $10m
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has dragged the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the ECOWAS community Court of Justice over alleged violations of his fundamental rights during successive military administrations in the 1980s and 1990s. Falana, in the suit marked ECW/CCJ/APP/30/2026 and filed in Abuja, is seeking declarations that his arrests, detentions, alleged abduction […] Falana sues FG…
Prominent human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, has initiated legal proceedings against the Federal Republic of Nigeria before the ECOWAS community Court of Justice. The case, ECW/CCJ/APP/30/2026, was filed in Abuja, and seeks to challenge alleged violations of his fundamental rights during military rule in the 1980s and 1990s. Falana is demanding $10 million in damages for his claims of unlawful arrests, detentions, alleged abduction, and restrictions on his movement, as well as infringements on his personal liberty, dignity, right to a fair hearing, property, and freedom of movement.
The lawyer is urging the ECOWAS court to examine these alleged violations in accordance with the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights and relevant ECOWAS legal instruments. Falana's legal battle began during his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) service in Oyo State between 1982 and 1983, when he represented university students charged with conspiracy and attempted murder due to a dispute involving the university's vice-chancellor.
Falana asserts that the NYSC authorities withheld his discharge certificate because he defended the students without official authorization.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Post Nigeria's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
