Prominent human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has criticized the increasing trend of charging protesters with treason in Nigeria.
The human right lawyer spoke out during a two-day international anti-corruption and climate change conference held in Abuja on Tuesday.
Naija News reports that Falana’s comments came in response to the Federal Government’s decision to arraign 10 leaders and organizers of the #EndBadGovernance protest, which took place from August 1st to 10th, 2024.
The protesters, now facing treason charges, were brought before Justice Emeka Nwite at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday.
The defendants, named as Michael Adaramoye (also known as Lenin), Adeyemi Abayomi, Suleiman Yakubu, Opaoluwa Simon, Angel Innocent, Buhari Lawal, Mosiu Sadiq, Bashir Bello, Nuradeen Khamis, and Abdulsalam Zubairu, all entered not guilty pleas to the six charges presented by the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
According to the charge sheet, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/454/2024, the accused face serious allegations including treason, attempts to destabilize the nation, intimidation of the President, and the destruction of government property in Kano.
The #EndBadGovernance protests, which gained significant attention in August, were part of a broader movement calling for accountability and reforms in Nigeria’s governance system.
Falana expressed grave concern over what he termed the “tribalisation” of treason charges, questioning why citizens exercising their right to protest are being accused of treason.
With a history of defending those accused of treason, Falana assured the public that there is no need for alarm.
He revealed that he has already begun working on this latest case and plans to advise the government, particularly President Bola Tinubu, to direct the police to drop the charges.
“I have been under pressure in the last 24 hours from Nigeria and abroad. People are wondering why the charge of treason is being tribalised in our country. How can you say that because people protested, they are being charged with treason?
“All those who have expressed concern, do not be bothered; there is no cause for alarm.
“We are taking up the case, and we are going to advise the government, particularly the President, to direct the police to withdraw the charge. And that advice is also in the interest of the government because a treason charge is not like a charge of stealing.
“This will be the fifth treason charge I am going to defend in our country,” Falana noted.
“In the four previous cases, the government was compelled to withdraw the charges because we turned the case into the trial of the government,” Falana said.
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