Femi Falana has strongly criticized former Head of State, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), over claims made in his newly released memoir, A Journey in Service. The renowned human rights lawyer hinted during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today that he may take legal action against IBB, particularly over his statements regarding the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election.
Falana dismissed IBB’s claim that he was unaware of the annulment while in Katsina, calling it a distortion of historical facts. He pointed out that Decree 25 of 1987 prevented courts from intervening in electoral matters, which he described as an anti-democratic move orchestrated by IBB himself.
According to Falana, IBB enacted a new decree on June 22, 1993, just a day before traveling to Katsina, and the annulment of the election was based on this last-minute decree. He also noted that IBB disbanded the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, led by Justice Bola Babalake, on the same day.
Falana accused IBB of launching a brutal crackdown on pro-democracy activists, including himself, following the election annulment. Many activists were arrested and imprisoned under IBB’s military regime.
Now, with IBB admitting in his memoir that he made mistakes regarding Abiola, Falana has vowed to take legal action against him, holding him accountable for his role in the June 12 crisis.