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‘Let The Guilty Be Afraid’ – Femi Falana Reacts Accusations Levied Against Him

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Kyari Will Stand Trial No Matter How Long It Takes - Falana
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Femi Falana, has reacted to the lawsuit filed against him at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Recall the frontline human rights lawyer was dragged to the ICC by an organisation, Make Nigeria Better Initiative, MNBI, after he was accused instigating the #EndSARS protests which led to the death of many Nigerians.

In the lawsuit, Falana was accused of having maintained antagonistic posture against Nigeria’s security forces, especially the military ever since the country returned to democracy.

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Among other things, the group accused Falana of playing a criminal role throughout the period of the protests by inciting youths to almost destroy the country.

They accused the senior lawyer of trying to foist a total breakdown of law and order in Nigeria which could lead to something similar if not worse than the Rwanda genocide.

Reacting, the ICC said it has received the petition, but it however stated that acknowledgement does not mean that an investigation has been opened or will be opened by the office of the prosecutor.

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The ICC promised to inform the petitioners once it reaches a decision on the matter.

The senior lawyer reacted in a piece entitled “Let the guilty be afraid”,

He went on to justify his actions, insisting that he decided to speak out loud against oppression and brutality.

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He said failure to speak against such actions would cause perpetrators to continue to attack anyone who happens to hold a view different from the one they cherish.

“The latest has been the use of men of the Nigerian Army to wage genocidal attacks on peaceful and unarmed #EndSARS protesters especially at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos. A full-scale war declared illegally in Port Harcourt has claimed the lives of scores of unarmed civilians,” he said.

Falana said all these are happening because those in authorities lack respect for the rule and the duly constituted courts.

He noted that as recently shown, soldiers have been deployed in full battle gear and war formation against peaceful protesters.

“I hear that those who (by virtue of the state offices they hold relative to these matters) are sure to be called upon by the ICC for explanation are going about trying to divert attention away from themselves,” he added.

“I even hear that one such attempt has, in a complaint to the ICC, named me, Femi Falana, as responsible for allegedly instigating the violent EndSARS protests that led to killing innocent citizens, wanton destruction of properties and other heinous crimes against humanity in Nigeria.

“Mr. Joseph Nwaegbu/Pathfind Attorneys/MNBI and their shadowy minders and paymasters obviously think that the ICC is a forum for frivolities, especially of the type we have gotten accustomed to in Nigeria (like, government and government officials hiring praise-singers or protesters to counter-balance genuine protesters!).

The lawyer said those that filed the lawsuit will sooner or later realize that the International Criminal Court is not such a place.

“I welcome them to pursue their petition. I move around the world and I have easy and undisturbed passage. I hope the shadowy minders and paymasters of Mr. Joseph Nwaegbu/Pathfind Attorneys/MNBI are able to do likewise. In fact, I challenge them to dare!” he said.