Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has instituted a case against the Federal Republic of Nigeria before the Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) over alleged violations of his fundamental rights during successive military administrations.

The suit, numbered ECW/CCJ/APP/30/2026, was filed before the ECOWAS Court in Abuja. Falana alleges that his rights to personal liberty, dignity of the human person, fair hearing, property and freedom of movement were violated at various times between the 1980s and 1990s.

Falana, a former President of the West African Bar Association, has been involved in human rights and public accountability advocacy since his call to the Nigerian Bar in 1982.

According to the application, one of his earliest major confrontations with the authorities occurred during his National Youth Service in Oyo State between 1982 and 1983, when he represented University of Ibadan students charged with conspiracy and attempted murder.

He alleged that authorities subsequently withheld his NYSC discharge certificate because of his defence of the students, although the case was eventually decided in their favour.

Falana further alleged that on June 8, 1985, armed agents of the then National Security Organisation arrested him at the Lagos State High Court, took him to his chambers and conducted a search without a warrant.

He said he was subsequently detained for seven weeks at the NSO facility on Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, alongside other political detainees.

The application also recounts an alleged restriction on his movement in October 1991, when the State Security Service allegedly prevented him from travelling to Harare, Zimbabwe, for a human rights conference and confiscated his international passport for six months.

Falana further alleged that SSS officials abducted him from his Lagos residence in April 1990, took him towards the Lagos-Epe Road and abandoned him in a bush.

He said the SSS denied involvement, while his request for an investigation was rejected by the military authorities.Falana Recounts 1992 Arrest and DetentionThe suit also details Falana’s arrest and detention in May 1992 alongside Dr Beko Ransome-Kuti and Baba Omojola.

According to the application, the three men were transferred to Kuje and detained over allegations of conspiracy and treasonable felony.

Falana alleged that although a fundamental-rights application resulted in an order for his release, the military authorities failed to comply with the order.

He and the other detainees were later arraigned before a Chief Magistrate Court on charges of conspiracy and treasonable felony and were subsequently granted bail.

The application refers to findings attributed to the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and reports by Amnesty International concerning some of the arrests and detentions.

June 12 Annulment ProtestsFalana also alleged that he was arrested and detained following protests against the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.

He said he, Chief Gani Fawehinmi and Dr Beko Ransome-Kuti were charged with conspiracy, sedition and incitement after publicly challenging the annulment.

According to the application, court orders granting bail were initially not honoured, and the three remained in detention until their release in August 1993.

The suit further recounts alleged arrests and detentions between 1994 and 1998, including incidents linked to Falana’s return from international human rights engagements, his advocacy concerning the trial of Ken Saro-Wiwa and other MOSOP leaders, as well as his participation in labour and human rights activities.

In one of the incidents cited, Falana alleged that he was arrested in March 1998 alongside nine other people after delivering a paper at a labour workshop.They were subsequently charged with conspiracy and unlawful assembly before a Chief Magistrate Court in Ilorin.

The case was eventually abandoned and struck out for want of diligent prosecution.

Falana Cites Babangida’s 2025 Memoir

The suit also refers to the publication in February 2025 of former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida’s memoir, A Journey in Service.

Falana is asking the ECOWAS Court to consider the allegations contained in his application in determining the claims concerning the alleged violations of his rights during Nigeria’s military era.

The filing is before the regional court and the allegations contained in the application remain claims to be determined by the court.