Femi Falana Sues Nigeria for $10M Over Rights Violations

Femi Falana, a human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has initiated a $10 million lawsuit against the Federal Republic of Nigeria at the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, citing violations of his fundamental rights during military regimes in the 1980s and 1990s. The suit, marked ECW/CCJ/APP/30/2026 and filed in Abuja, seeks a declaration that his arrests, detentions, alleged abduction, and movement restrictions were unlawful.

Falana claims damages for breaches of his rights to personal liberty, dignity, fair hearing, property, and freedom of movement, referencing incidents dating back to his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program in Oyo State from 1982 to 1983. He alleges that his discharge certificate was withheld due to his representation of students in a legal case.

Additionally, he recounts being arrested by the National Security Organisation in June 1985 and held for seven weeks under dehumanizing conditions. Falana also claims he was abducted by State Security Service officials in April 1990.