Table of Contents
- Account of the Ogoni 4 and Ogoni 9 Killings
- Femi Falana's Speech
- The Role of the Military Junta
- Shell Petroleum's Involvement
- Legal Proceedings and Outcomes
Human rights attorney, Femi Falana, SAN, provided a detailed account of the brutal killings of the Ogoni 4 and the Ogoni 9 by the Sani Abacha military regime in 1995.
Falana shared this information during the 84th posthumous birthday lecture of Ken Saro-Wiwa in Port Harcourt on Saturday.
The esteemed lawyer, who, along with Gani Fawehinmi, SAN, represented Ken Saro-Wiwa and other leaders of MOSOP, stated that they withdrew from the proceedings when the special military tribunal obstructed their attempts to present crucial material evidence in favor of the accused individuals.
“In a desperate attempt to exploit oil resources uncontested, the Nigerian State granted licenses to Shell Petroleum Development Company to import arms and ammunition into the country under the guise of protecting its assets.
“The weapons eventually ended up in the hands of militant youths as communities were incited to attack and fight one another. This was orchestrated to distract the populace while the oil-rich region was thoroughly exploited by Shell and other oil corporations.
“When the divide-and-rule tactics of the multinational companies failed to silence the Ogoni people, a Task Force led by Col. Paul Okintimo took on the mission of recruiting misguided militants to assassinate the Ogoni 4.
“Consequently, when the leaders were assaulted and killed by the youths, the soldiers present at the crime scene made no arrests. The soldiers removed the bodies of the deceased to an undisclosed location.
“Immediately after Col. Okintimo informed the military authorities about the killings of the Ogoni 4, the military governor of Rivers State, Col. Dauda Komo, proclaimed that Ken Saro-Wiwa and other MOSOP leaders would be held vicariously responsible for the brutal murder of the Ogoni 4.
“This prejudicial statement was made by Col. Komo prior to the initiation of an investigation into the heinous act.
“The murder charges filed against Ken and other MOSOP leaders in the High Court of Rivers State were dropped when the prosecutors indicated to the junta that the evidence was insufficient to secure a conviction against the Ogoni 9.
“On the orders of General Sani Abacha, a special military tribunal was established for the trial. The tribunal dismissed critical material evidence from the defense, facilitating the conviction and death sentences imposed on the Ogoni 9,” he revealed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to the Ogoni 4 and Ogoni 9?
The Ogoni 4 were brutally killed by the military junta in 1995, and the Ogoni 9 were subsequently tried and convicted in a military tribunal, despite a lack of strong evidence.
Who was Femi Falana?
Femi Falana is a prominent human rights lawyer in Nigeria who defended Ken Saro-Wiwa and other leaders of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP).
What role did Shell Petroleum play in the events?
Shell Petroleum was granted licenses to import arms under the pretense of protecting its assets, which were later found in the hands of militant youths incited to create conflict within the Ogoni communities.
