Human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN
Government officials negotiating with, forgiving, or rewarding terrorists are committing a grave offence, according to a a foremost human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, SAN.
He declared this in his blistering keynote address delivered at the Amnesty International Annual General Meeting on Saturday.
Also, he declared that the Federal and State governments are engaging in an outright illegal act by indulging the terrorists.
He spoke on the theme “Rising Under Pressure: Human Rights in an era of Insecurity, Economic Strain & Democratic Uncertainty.”
Falana warned public officials that holding talks with proscribed terrorist groups is a grave criminal offense under Nigerian law, punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
He warned that ‘satanic sects’ cannot bee pampered, as he cited the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, which has proscribed Boko Haram and similar entities.
Falana insisted that the law leaves no room for ambiguity, saying “Their members and allies shall be prosecuted and not pampered and forgiven by the Nigerian State.”
He noted with alarm that it is now public knowledge that officials across both levels of government have been meeting with insurgents and bandits.
Also, he condemned the practice of granting amnesty and handing out undisclosed cash gifts to thousands of “repentant” criminals who have engaged in the abduction of citizens, including schoolchildren.
“State governors lack the power to grant pardon to the so-called terrorists and bandits,” Falana stated flatly.
He read directly from Section 22 of the Terrorism Act, which states that any person who knowingly arranges, manages, participates in, or even attends a meeting connected with a terrorist group or proscribed entity: “Commits an offence, and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of at least 20 years.”
Falana argued that instead of negotiating, security forces must arrest terrorists, and the Attorney-General of the Federation must prosecute them.
Only after a conviction, and a minimum of two decades behind bars, could the President theoretically consider a pardon.
He cautioned that even the presidential prerogative of mercy has limits when it comes to mass atrocities.
“The President must bear in mind that it is not in the interest of national defence, public safety, public order or public morality to grant pardon to terrorists and bandits who had engaged in the abduction of citizens including school children, gang rape of women and school girls, decapitation or beheading of victims of abduction, burning of schools,” he warned.
Falana’s address serves as a legal and moral bombshell, effectively accusing the Nigerian state of complicity in violating its own anti-terrorism laws, and setting the stage for a potential constitutional crisis over how the nation chooses to pursue “peace” with its deadliest enemies.
