More than three decades after a series of arrests and detentions under Nigeria’s former military governments, Femi Falana, SAN, has taken his claims beyond the domestic courts. His new ECOWAS Court action seeks $10 million in damages and asks the regional court to determine whether alleged violations dating back to the 1980s and 1990s remain capable of attracting judicial remedies today.
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, has instituted proceedings against the Federal Republic of Nigeria before the Community Court of Justice, ECOWAS, over alleged violations of his fundamental rights during successive military administrations.
The action is marked ECW/CCJ/APP/30/2026.
Falana alleges violations of his rights to personal liberty, dignity, fair hearing, property and freedom of movement arising from incidents spanning the 1980s and 1990s. His application refers to arrests, detention, restrictions on movement and alleged non-compliance with orders directing his release.
Among the incidents cited is his alleged arrest in June 1985 by operatives of the then National Security Organisation. Falana alleges that he was detained for about seven weeks and that his law chambers were searched without a warrant.
His application also refers to subsequent detentions connected with human-rights and pro-democracy activities, including events surrounding the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.
Falana is asking the regional court to declare that the alleged acts violated his rights and to award $10 million in damages.
No determination has yet been made on the merits of the allegations. Nigeria will have the opportunity to respond to the claims in accordance with the procedure of the ECOWAS Court.
The case may attract significant attention because it places alleged historical abuses before a regional human-rights court many years after the events complained of.
- READ MORE: LegalLinkz — ECOWAS Court Targets Judgment Enforcement Gaps
- SOURCE: Vanguard — Falana Sues Nigeria Over Decades of Rights Violations
- Nigerian Tribune — Falana Seeks $10m at ECOWAS Court
