“Tinubu Behaved Like Dictators IBB, Abacha in Charging Hungry Children with Treason” — Femi Falana

Prominent human rights lawyer and activist, Femi Falana, has sharply criticized President Bola Tinubu, comparing his handling of recent treason charges against minors to the authoritarian methods employed by former Nigerian military rulers, Ibrahim Babangida and Sani Abacha.

In a widely circulated article on Monday, Falana condemned the Tinubu administration’s decision to arraign minors involved in the #EndBadGovernance protest on charges of treason, a crime that carries the death penalty. Falana likened Tinubu’s actions to those of Babangida and Abacha, accusing both regimes of trivializing treason charges to suppress dissent. He pointed to historical examples where prominent Nigerians, including political figures like Obafemi Awolowo, Moshood Abiola, and Tinubu himself, were previously targeted with similar charges under military rule.

“Chief Obafemi Awolowo and his political associates were charged with treasonable felony, convicted, and sentenced to various prison terms. Since then, the ruling class—military and civilian alike—has often wielded treason charges as a political weapon,” Falana said, underscoring the misuse of such accusations to stifle democratic expression.

The controversy erupted last week after the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed treason charges against minors who had joined protests against worsening economic conditions. The minors, held in detention for over 90 days, allegedly suffered from dire conditions, with four reportedly collapsing in court during their appearance. Amid mounting public outcry, President Tinubu instructed Justice Minister Lateef Fagbemi to withdraw the charges.

Falana condemned the initial charges as an “ironic betrayal,” pointing out that Tinubu himself had once fled Nigeria to escape a similar accusation under Abacha’s regime. He argued that, if the case had proceeded, the government could have pressed for severe punishments against 130 young Nigerians simply for exercising their fundamental rights.

“Without the international condemnation, the regime might have moved forward to seek convictions against these minors for merely protesting. This development should concern every Nigerian committed to democracy and human rights,” Falana asserted.

The charges have since been dropped, but the incident has sparked renewed debates on freedom of expression and assembly, with critics warning of growing authoritarian tendencies under Tinubu’s administration.