Human Rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has criticised the treason charge against protesters of the #EndBadgovernance movement by the Federal Government, News About Nigeria reports.
He made this known while speaking at a two-day international anti-corruption and climate change conference in Abuja on Tuesday.
He condemned the increasing use of treason charges against protesters in the country, questioning the rationale behind charging citizens with treason simply for exercising their right to protest.
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.
“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?
“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,” he stated.
Recall that the Federal Government on Monday 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.
