Femi Falana carpets IBB over “killing” of Mamman Vatsa

Popular Nigerian lawyer, Femi Falana, has said the law former military president General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (rtd) “used to kill” his ally, Major General Mamman Vatsa, was created while Vatsa was in detention.

Babangida had recently disclosed that Vatsa was executed because of the need to uphold national security.

However, Falana, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who was a victim of the military’s brutality, disagreed and said Vatsa’s death was “plain murder”

Falana recounted his ordeal under former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida’s regime.

Falana said the ex-general detained him and other students for speaking up against his government, adding that Babangida deliberately killed his best man, Major-General Mamman Jiya Vatsa—contrary to the claim that the slain soldier was involved in a coup.

According to Babangida, he was forced to execute Vatsa, to safeguard Nigeria’s future.

In March 1986, Vatsa and nine other alleged co-conspirators were executed by the Babangida-led military junta for allegedly plotting a coup against his administration.

In his new book, ‘A Journey in Service,’ Babangida detailed the events leading up to Vatsa’s execution, describing the alleged coup attempt as a grave threat to national stability.

Babangida stated that despite their long-standing friendship, the consequences of the coup attempt in which Vatsa was allegedly involved, left no room for leniency.

Reflecting on his emotions at the time, he acknowledged the personal loss but emphasised national security.

But reacting, Falana said Babangida was not being truthful. The legal luminary said: “I was left in detention. Late Yinka Odumakin and others were expelled from the universities in Ife and Nsukka. Some students were taken to a tribunal, and I defended them.

“The law Babangida used to kill Vatsa was created while Vatsa was in detention. It was plain murder. Contrary to what he said, he issued 15 decrees to justify the annulment (of June 12), not Abacha.

“He claimed that Abacha was planning a coup against him and that he did not kill him, but he killed Vatsa.”