Former Kaduna Central senator, Shehu Sani, has shared details of his imprisonment during the military rule of Sani Abacha, warning Nigerians about the dangers of lacking basic legal knowledge.
In a Facebook post on Thursday, Sani recounted how he was detained at Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison in 1995 over allegations of treason and an alleged plot to overthrow the Abacha regime.
He explained that while in custody, he wrote letters to notable activists, including Gani Fawehinmi, Femi Falana, and Beko Ransome-Kuti, seeking support for his release and that of other detainees.
According to him, Fawehinmi and Falana handled the matter cautiously by mobilising protests without making the letters public. However, Ransome-Kuti took a different approach by revealing the correspondence during a press conference in Lagos.
Sani said the decision led to Ransome-Kuti’s arrest and prosecution as an accessory to treason, with both men eventually sentenced to life imprisonment.
“We spent four years in prison until Abacha died, after which Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar granted us freedom,” he recalled.
He expressed regret over the outcome, noting that Ransome-Kuti endured years of hardship following the incident, as both men remained behind bars until their release.
Drawing lessons from the experience, Sani emphasised the importance of legal awareness, warning that ignorance of the law can expose individuals to serious consequences.
“You don’t have to be a lawyer, but you need basic knowledge of the law to guide your actions and public statements,” he added, cautioning that many people unknowingly get into trouble through careless words or actions.
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