A lawyer, Joseph Nwaegbu of Pathfind Attorneys, has filed a criminal complaint against Femi Falana (SAN) before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in Hague, for allegedly instigating the #EndSARS protests, which he claimed, led to the killing of innocent citizens, destruction of property, among others.
The complaint dated 4th November 2020 was addressed to the Office of Madame Fatou Bensouda, the Prosecutor ICC by Nwaegbu, who claimed to be acting for his group, Make Nigeria Better Initiative (MNBI).
Nwaegbu alleged the role played by Falana before, during, and after what he described as “the mother of all protests in Nigeria” is not only ignoble but criminal.
”On the recent #EndSARS protests which turned violent across the country, we beg to submit that the role played by Mr. Falana before, during, and after what observers described as “the mother of all protests in Nigeria” is not only ignoble but criminal.”
He accused Falana of spreading fake news to further incite the youths in the country against the government which killings and destructions of properties.
Nwaegbu added: “We have seen how the type of incitement spearheaded by Mr. Falana worked in Rwanda and other parts of the world and the resultant effect was genocide.
“In the case of Nigeria, the misguided youths who acted based on Falana’s posture, character and utterances employed crude methods to illegally murder about 22 (Twenty Two) police officers in cold blood during the #EndSARS protests that lasted between the period 3rd October, 2020 till 21st October, 2020.
“We strongly believe that Mr. Falana is a highly placed Nigerian citizen, senior lawyer, and politician that without the timely intervention of the ICC he will get away with justice in this case.
”At Oyigbo Police Station in Lagos alone, a total of 3 (Three) police officers were killed and roasted like Christmas goats with their facilities destroyed,” he said.
”It is our further submission that what Falana is doing gives room for suspicion that another brand of the terrorist group may be created to hide under the cover of “human rights activists” whilst sustaining the evils already bedeviling our people through the activities of the disbanded Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Boko Haram and Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
”Overall, we submit that prima facie cases of instigating violent protests that led to the killing of innocent citizens, wanton destruction of properties and other heinous crimes against humanity have been established against Femi Falana SAN vide this Criminal Complaint for which the ICC can investigate, prosecute and mete out appropriate sanctions to him.”
He urged the ICC Prosecutor to open an investigation of Femi Falana, SAN, on her own accord under Article 15 (1) of the Rome Statute;
Nwaegbu urged the ICC Prosecutor to compel Femi Falana SAN upon conviction under the Rome Statute to pay the sum of $2,000,000,000 (Two Billion US Dollars) as punitive damages for causing death, injury and maiming of several citizens as well as wanton destruction of public and private properties through his instigation of the violent #EndSARS Protests across Nigeria from the period 3rd October, 2020 till 21st October 2020.
The ICC has acknowledged the receipt of the complaints in reply signed by the Head of Information and Evidence Unit of the ICC, Mark P. Dillon.
Dillon said the communication has entered the Registry of the Court and will be considered accordingly with the procedure and Rome Statute of the ICC.
He however added: “Please note this acknowledgment letter does not mean an investigation has been opened, nor that an investigation will be opened by the Office of the Prosecutor.
“As soon as a decision is reached, we will inform you, in writing and provide you with reasons for this decision.”
