ABUJA — Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has challenged former Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sheriff to seek legal redress over allegations linking him to the early emergence of the Boko Haram insurgency.
In a statement widely circulated on social media, Falana was quoted as saying:
“Ali Modu Sheriff started the Boko Haram in Borno State. He provided funds and had a governorship re-election deal with them in 2003. I’m expecting him to sue.”
The statement has reignited public debate over long-standing allegations concerning the origins of Boko Haram and the role of political actors during the group’s formative years.
Ali Modu Sheriff has consistently denied allegations linking him to the creation or sponsorship of Boko Haram. Over the years, he has maintained that the accusations are politically motivated and has repeatedly rejected claims that he funded or supported the insurgent group. He has not been convicted by any court of law in relation to terrorism or the sponsorship of Boko Haram.
The origins of Boko Haram remain a subject of extensive public debate, academic research and official inquiries, with differing accounts about the group’s evolution before it transformed into one of Africa’s deadliest insurgencies.
Falana’s latest remarks come amid renewed political discussions involving Sheriff and have added to the growing calls for greater clarity on the historical circumstances surrounding the insurgency’s emergence.
As of the time of this report, there has been no fresh public response from Sheriff specifically addressing the statement attributed to Falana.
