Femi Falana Rejects Another Presidential Committee’s Membership

Lagos-based lawyer and human rights activist Femi Falana, SAN, has declined the invitation to be a member of the Presidential committee set up to investigate the case of over 200 girls kidnapped by Boko Haram in Borno State.

Femi-Falana

It would be recalled that on April 14, some 200 girls were kidnapped by the insurgents from a girls’ school in Chibok town. Yesterday, President Goodluck Jonathan has directed that a “fact-finding” committee be set up, headed by a retired Nigerian Army Brigadier General Ibrahim Sabo.

Reacting to the news of his appointment as a member, Mr. Falana issued a statement where he explained why he refused to take the role. According to him, he is already involved in nationwide demonstrations demanding that the Army secure the immediate release of the girls. Furthermore, he is rendering legal assistance to Nigerians working with the parents of the girls to compell the Federal Government to discharge its duty to the victims of the crime against humanity. Also, Mr. Falana said, he collaborates with international human rights organizations doing everything possible to rescue the girls.

Falana, who noted that the Nigerian military have many times since the abduction promised to save the girls, however, expressed gratitude to the FG for granting him membership within the committee.