Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
NIGERIA — Prominent Nigerian human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Femi Falana has called on the United States Congress to impose sanctions on U.S. President Donald Trump over what he describes as an “illegal invasion” of Venezuela and repeated violations of both international law and the U.S. Constitution. Falana’s appeal comes amid widespread international scrutiny of recent U.S. military actions in Venezuela that have drawn strong criticism for alleged breaches of sovereign rights and global legal norms.
In statements issued this week, Falana condemned reports that U.S. forces bombed Caracas, overthrew the government of President Nicolás Maduro, and captured Maduro and his wife, actions he described as a grave violation of the United Nations Charter and customary international law. He warned that such military operations set a dangerous precedent and undermine the foundational principles of state sovereignty and non-intervention.
Falana accused President Trump of engaging in what he termed “reckless gangsterism”, alleging that the U.S. leader has repeatedly bypassed both domestic and international legal frameworks to carry out foreign military interventions without congressional approval. He pointed to earlier strikes — including reported bombardments of Iran and airstrikes in Nigeria against militants allegedly linked to the Islamic State group — as examples of military actions undertaken without legislative oversight, which Falana says contravene the U.S. Constitution’s war powers provisions.
On Venezuela specifically, Falana condemned the reported overthrow of Maduro, asserting that the abduction and extraordinary rendition of a sitting head of state is a blatant violation of international law. He encouraged the U.S. legislature to sanction Trump for these actions, regardless of ideological differences with Caracas, arguing that external military intervention cannot be justified simply on political grounds. He also urged the U.S. judiciary to reject any domestic legal manoeuvres that could undermine Venezuela’s sovereign rights.
Beyond urging congressional sanctions, Falana called on the United Nations to take a decisive stand in defence of Venezuela. He warned that failure by the global body to robustly uphold the UN Charter would amount to a betrayal of international legal norms and further weaken global accountability mechanisms.
Falana’s comments resonate amid a broader wave of international concern. Global leaders and legal experts have criticised the U.S. operation for potentially breaching both international obligations and U.S. legal requirements. Critics argue that military action on Venezuelan soil without explicit UN Security Council authorization or legitimate self-defense justification violates core international norms, including Article 2(4) of the UN Charter, which prohibits the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.
European nations, among others, have publicly emphasised the need to respect international law and charter principles, while regional powers in Latin America have condemned the intervention as a hostile act that threatens regional peace and stability. The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to meet to address the situation, reflecting growing global alarm over the legal and geopolitical ramifications of the U.S. action.
Falana’s call reflects broader debates over the legality and legitimacy of unilateral military interventions by powerful states. Legal scholars contend that without explicit authorization by the UN Security Council or a clear and imminent threat justifying self-defense, such actions risk violating both international law and sovereign equality. They also stress that allegations of illicit activity or internal political repression, while serious, do not confer legal authority for external force.
The Nigerian lawyer’s appeal to the U.S. legislature adds a notable voice from the Global South to the global reaction. Many critics — from human rights groups to government officials — argue that the U.S. intervention in Venezuela undermines longstanding international norms and could embolden other powers to bypass legal restraints on the use of force. Falana’s demand that Congress act against Trump underscores a push for accountability not only through international institutions but within domestic legal and political systems in powerful states.
As the situation continues to unfold, the international community remains divided, with some leaders urging restraint and others supporting diplomatic avenues. Falana’s intervention highlights a fundamental tension in global politics between geopolitical objectives and adherence to established legal frameworks intended to safeguard peace, sovereignty, and multilateral governance.
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