Falana Recounts Deception: “They Told Us We Were Going Home, But Took Us to Court”

Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Femi Falana has revealed how he and other activists were deceived while in detention under General Ibrahim Babangida’s military regime.

In a video shared by Channels TV, Falana recounted how he and fellow activists, including Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti and Baba Omojola, were arrested for protesting Babangida’s delayed handover of power. They were detained at Kuje Prison under Decree No. 2, which allowed detention without trial.

Falana noted that prominent lawyer Chief Gani Fawehinmi challenged their detention in court but was also arrested and jailed alongside them.

According to him, on May 19, 1992, security officials told them they were being released and would be taken to the airport to go home. However, instead of the airport, their vehicle diverted to the Gwagwalada Chief Magistrate Court, where they were charged with treasonable felony.

Falana stated: “On 19th of May, they deceived us in prison that we were going home, so we packed our things. The vehicle that was taking us to the airport, purportedly, made some maneuver and we found ourselves at the Gwagwalada Chief Magistrate Court, where we were charged with treasonable felony.”

Watch the video below: