June 12 and the international pursuit of justice for Abiola

By FEMI FALANA
The June 12, 1993, pro-democracy struggle in Nigeria is widely remembered for the resistance to military rule and the eventual transition to civilian governance. However, dominant narratives often overlook two critical aspects: the foundational role of the Campaign for Democracy (CD) and the post  June 12 struggle’s international human rights litigation in a U.S. court, which remains a benchmark for assessing access to justice in weak legal systems through foreign courts.
The National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) was established in May 1994 largely by politicians who supported Chief Abiola’s plan to claim his mandate. While NADECO is frequently credited for the later s...