LAGOS — Human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, SAN, has called on the Federal Government to reopen investigations into the circumstances surrounding the death of the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (M.K.O.) Abiola while in government custody in 1998.
Falana, who represented the Abiola family before the Oputa Panel on Human Rights Abuse, said a fresh investigation was necessary to establish the circumstances surrounding Abiola’s death and address unresolved questions raised by evidence presented before the panel.
Abiola who was widely recognised as the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, declared himself president on June 12, 1994. He was subsequently arrested by the military government of General Sani Abacha and detained after being charged with treasonable felony.
Disclosing this in a statement he personally sent to Vanguard, Falana opined Abiola remained in custody for about four years and was subjected to prolonged detention despite concerns about his health.
He recalled that Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who visited Nigeria in April 1998, had expressed concern about Abiola’s deteriorating health and called for his release to enable him to receive appropriate medical attention.
