Femi Falana Sues Federal Government, Demands $10 Million Over Alleged Rights Violations

Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has dragged the Federal Government of Nigeria before the ECOWAS Court of Justice over alleged violations of his fundamental rights during successive military administrations.

The suit, filed in Abuja and numbered ECW/CCJ/APP/30/2026, relates to alleged incidents involving unlawful arrests and detention, restrictions on his freedom of movement and other rights violations between the 1980s and 1990s.

Falana is asking the ECOWAS Court to declare the alleged violations unlawful and unconstitutional. He is also seeking US$10 million in damages for alleged violations of his rights to personal liberty, dignity, fair hearing, property and freedom of movement under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

Among the incidents cited in the suit are alleged arrests and periods of detention, the alleged seizure of his international passport and restrictions on his travel during the military era.

The lawyer has also asked the court to make declarations concerning the alleged treatment he received from Nigerian authorities during the period covered by the case.

The allegations are now before the ECOWAS Court for determination, and the court has yet to make a final ruling on the claims.