Senior lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, has called on Nigerians who have paid ransom to kidnappers or bandits to consider taking legal action against the Federal Government and demand reimbursement.
Speaking at the opening of the Legal Year at the Faculty of Law, University of Abuja, Falana cited both the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, stressing that it is the government’s duty to protect citizens’ lives.
He highlighted the disparity in government response, noting that swift action is often taken when high-profile individuals are abducted, while ordinary Nigerians are frequently left to fend for themselves.
Falana emphasized that the state’s failure to tackle the growing wave of kidnappings constitutes a breach of its constitutional responsibilities.
He argued that victims seeking refunds through legal channels would assert their rights and push the government to take its security obligations more seriously.
“Citizens who are abducted, and whose families are forced to pay ransom, have the right to go to court and demand that the government refunds the money,” Falana said.
“It is the government’s duty to protect every life. When that protection fails, the government must take responsibility.”
“There is a clear class disparity: officials and high-profile individuals are rescued swiftly, while ordinary citizens must scramble to raise ransom. Citizens are equal before the law, and this equality must be reflected in government action.”
Security experts have warned that kidnapping in Nigeria has become a highly organized and lucrative criminal enterprise.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigerians paid a staggering N2.23 trillion in ransom between May 2023 and April 2024.
The CESPS 2024 survey also estimated that there were over 2.2 million kidnapping incidents during this period, with an average ransom of N2.7 million per case.
