By Seyi Babalola

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana has vowed to drag General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) to court for alleged human rights violations.

Falana, a distinguished Nigerian barrister, was imprisoned by former President Ibrahim Babangida during his military rule.

Falana and others were detained, prosecuted, and imprisoned in Kuje for defying the military government’s decision to nullify the June 12, 1993 election.

They also questioned IBB’s choice to delay the end of his military government. They were eventually given bail and freed.

General Babangida recently published a book titled ‘Journey in Service’ on his military and political career.

In the book, he revealed certain details.

One of the book’s main arguments was the annulment of the presidential election on June 12.

He now claims that the election was free and fair and that the late MKO Abiola won.

Ibrahim Babangida also expressed regret for not transferring control to a civilian government on the specified date.

Falana, who was on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, argued that it was mostly for these two reasons IBB maliciously prosecuted him, vowing to return to court.

“I’m going to challenge my malicious prosecution and that of my colleagues,” he said

On whether he wants to prosecute General Babangida for something that happened during his time as military head of state, Felana added, “I’ve assembled a team of lawyers, they’re looking into it.

He said, “Because he [IBB] has now brought it to life by now admitting there was no basis for my prosecution because he now says, Abiola won the election which was the basis for our protest.

“He’s also saying he shouldn’t have postponed the terminal date of his transition programme of which we were fighting for which means there was no basis for my prosecution. It was malicious.

“Again, massive infringement of my human rights. Because when you keep me in Kuje prison you deny me my right to liberty, my freedom of movement and you also violate my right to choose the government of my country. The man who did has just come out to say, ‘I did it wrongly.”