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Renowned human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has condemned the increasing use of treason charges against protesters in the country.
Falana spoke at a two-day international anti-corruption and climate change conference in Abuja on Tuesday.
On Monday, the Federal Government arraigned 10 leaders and organisers of the #EndBadGovernance protest, which took place from 1st to 10th August 2024.
The protesters, who have been accused of treason, among other charges, appeared before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The defendants, identified as Michael Adaramoye (also known as Lenin), Adeyemi Abayomi, Suleiman Yakubu, Opaoluwa Simon, Angel Innocent, Buhari Lawal, Mosiu Sadiq, Bashir Bello, Nuradeen Khamis, and Abdulsalam Zubairu, all pleaded not guilty to the six-count charges brought against them by the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
According to the charge sheet marked FHC/ABJ/CR/454/2024, the accused face serious allegations, including treason, attempts to destabilise the country, intimidation of the President, and the destruction of some government properties in Kano.
The #EndBadGovernance protests, which garnered widespread attention in August, were part of a larger movement demanding accountability and reforms in Nigeria’s governance.
Falana expressed deep concern over what he described as the “tribalisation” of treason, questioning the rationale behind charging citizens with treason simply for exercising their right to protest.
“I have been under pressure in the last 24 hours from Nigeria and abroad. People are wondering why the charge of treason is being tribalised in our country. How can you say that because people protested, they are being charged with treason?”
Falana, who has a long history of defending individuals accused of treason, assured the public that there is no cause for alarm.
He revealed that he has already begun taking up the latest case and intends to advise the government, particularly President Bola Tinubu, to instruct the police to withdraw the charges.
“All those who have expressed concern, do not be bothered; there is no cause for alarm.
“We are taking up the case, and we are going to advise the government, particularly the President, to direct the police to withdraw the charge. And that advice is also in the interest of the government because a treason charge is not like a charge of stealing.
“This will be the fifth treason charge I am going to defend in our country,” Falana noted. “In the four previous cases, the government was compelled to withdraw the charges because we turned the case into the trial of the government.”
Falana recalled previous instances where he successfully defended clients accused of treason, emphasising that such charges should not be taken lightly. He warned that the misuse of treason charges could backfire on the government, as it has in the past.
