Prime Business Africa
By Emmanuel Onwubiko
The Times of India ran a story which stated that : Prisoner Of War’: Maduro Breaks Silence After US Capture, Wife Appears Bruised In 1st Court Hearing. The newspaper website also reported the following lines, which I have presented underneath.
“I am innocent.” Those were the words of deposed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro as he pleaded not guilty in his first U.S. court appearance following his dramatic capture by American forces. Standing before a New York judge, Maduro called himself a “decent man,” a “kidnapped president,” and a “prisoner of war,” rejecting sweeping narco-terrorism and drug trafficking charges.
His wife, Cilia Flores, also pleaded not guilty as questions emerged about her injuries in custody. The case now sets the stage for a prolonged legal and political battle with global implications. Then, another international publication known as justiceinconflict.org wrote similarly as aforementioned. The UN Security Council met, and most members condemned the actions of the USA in Venezuela.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelIt states that there is an alluring idea that anything – including illegal action – should be taken to protect people from dictators. It is the reasoning that some are tapping into insisting that American military strikes on Venezuela and the kidnapping of President Nicolas Maduro are welcome. Legal or not, the man responsible for countless atrocities in Venezuela is gone. While no one should sympathize with the likes of Maduro, this view is indefensible. It is legally and morally wrong. More than that, it is dangerous.
Given U.S. President Donald Trump’s open disdain for the Iraq War – he called it a “big, fat mistake” that won’t be repeated – the parallels between American action in Venezuela to that of Iraq in 2003 are staggering. Back then, the Republican administration of George W. Bush lied by claiming that weapons of mass destruction were present in Iraq to justify a military intervention. Claiming it was engaging in “pre-emptive self-defence”, Washington proceeded despite a lack of approval by the United Nations Security Council. At the time, many well-intentioned people believed that Iraqi dictator Sadaam Hussein, who had previously gassed thousands of civilians in Kurdistan to death, needed to be removed, regardless of whether international law permitted it or not.
What ensued wasn’t just the removal and execution of Hussein, but an illegal war, a bungled occupation marred by human rights abuses and war crimes, and a decision to mass-relieve the Iraqi military which later birthed the Islamic State terrorist group. Meanwhile, the cost of the war in dollars reached trillions. Its cost in death and destruction was even greater. America’s reputation has never recovered. Today, no respected international lawyer would claim the invasion of Iraq was legal or wise.
In recent weeks, the Trump administration has claimed that its military strikes on Venezuelan drug dealers were lawful because it was at “war” with “narco-terrorists”. Trump has also made clear that the attacks on Venezuela, not unlike Iraq in 2003, are also motivated by oil; Venezuela holds the largest oil reserves in the world. When it comes to drugs, Venezuela is responsible for only a small fraction of the narcotics entering America. Still, in December, Washington designated some drugs, namely fentanyl (which Venezuela doesn’t produce), as ‘weapons of mass destruction’. Three weeks later, American forces removed Maduro from power. Now, in an eery parallel to Iraq, Washington says it will “run” Venezuela for the foreseeable future. Once again, some seem convinced that doing so was right because a dictator is no longer around to hurt citizens, in conclusion.
At home, conversations have centred around the illegality of that military violation of the sovereign territory of Venezuela by the USA.
Falana also accuses Trump of breaching international law in Venezuela, urging US sanctions.
The Guardian of Nigeria reports that Nigerian human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has called on the United States Congress to sanction President Donald Trump over what he describes as an “illegal invasion” of Venezuela, warning that the military action constitutes a serious violation of international law and the United Nations Charter.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Falana condemned reports that U.S. forces bombed Caracas, overthrew President Nicolás Maduro, and seized control of the country’s oil resources, alleging that scores of unarmed civilians were killed in the operation.
“The abduction and extraordinary rendition of a sitting president of a sovereign state is indeed a blatant violation of international law,” Falana said. “The hypocrisy and double standard of the so-called international community are so glaring.”
Falana further accused the Trump administration of attempting to establish a transitional regime in Venezuela designed to exploit the country’s vast oil and gas reserves, describing the move as a step towards turning Venezuela into “a new colony of the United States.”
He warned that ideological disagreements between the U.S. and Maduro’s government could not justify external military intervention or regime change.
“Notwithstanding ideological differences with the Maduro administration, the United States Congress should sanction Mr. Trump for the illegal invasion of Venezuela,” Falana stated.
‘Reckless Gangsterism’
According to Falana, the Venezuelan operation fits a pattern of what he calls “reckless gangsterism” by Trump during his second term, citing previous military actions carried out without congressional approval
“In his second term in office, the United States President, Mr Donald Trump, has repeatedly engaged in reckless gangsterism. A few months ago, he bombed Iran without congressional approval,” Falana said.
He also recalled Trump’s December 25, 2025, announcement of “powerful and deadly” airstrikes against militants linked to the Islamic State (IS) in northwestern Nigeria, again bypassing Congress.
Calls for Judicial and UN Intervention
Falana urged the U.S. judiciary to reject what he described as “dubious attempts” by Trump to use domestic courts to undermine Venezuela’s sovereignty.
“We equally call on the judiciary of the United States to reject the dubious attempt by Mr. Trump to use domestic courts to subvert the sovereign rights of the people of Venezuela guaranteed by international law,” he said.
He also appealed to the United Nations to intervene, warning that global silence could undermine international justice.
“The UN must stand with the people of Venezuela and demand justice and accountability for the fundamental breach of the United Nations Charter if the global body is to uphold the letter and spirit of the Charter and claim any credibility,” Falana emphasised.
Falana’s statement comes amid escalating international tensions following reports of the U.S. military action in Venezuela, with the former president reportedly detaining Maduro and his wife and charging them with terrorism and narcotics offences in a U.S. District Court.
As calls for accountability grow, Falana’s intervention highlights the broader debate on the legality of unilateral military interventions and the responsibilities of international institutions in enforcing the rule of law.
The legal mind Mr. Falana also accused Trump of breaching international law in Venezuela, eben as he urges US sanctions.
Nigerian human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has called on the United States Congress to sanction President Donald Trump over what he describes as an “illegal invasion” of Venezuela, warning that the military action constitutes a serious violation of international law and the United Nations Charter.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Falana condemned reports that U.S. forces bombed Caracas, overthrew President Nicolás Maduro, and seized control of the country’s oil resources, alleging that scores of unarmed civilians were killed in the operation.
According to Falana, the Venezuelan operation fits a pattern of what he calls “reckless gangsterism” by Trump during his second term, citing previous military actions carried out without congressional approval
“In his second term in office, the United States President, Mr Donald Trump, has repeatedly engaged in reckless gangsterism. A few months ago, he bombed Iran without congressional approval,” Falana said.
He also recalled Trump’s December 25, 2025, announcement of “powerful and deadly” airstrikes against militants linked to the Islamic State (IS) in northwestern Nigeria, again bypassing Congress.
Calls for Judicial and UN Intervention
Falana urged the U.S. judiciary to reject what he described as “dubious attempts” by Trump to use domestic courts to undermine Venezuela’s sovereignty.
Falana’s statement comes amid escalating international tensions following reports of the U.S. military action in Venezuela, with the former president reportedly detaining Maduro and his wife and charging them with terrorism and narcotics offences in a U.S. District Court.
As calls for accountability grow, Falana’s intervention highlights the broader debate on the legality of unilateral military interventions and the responsibilities of international institutions in enforcing the rule of law.
As a human rights practitioner, my organisation HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) condemns the outrageous violation of international law by President Trump which in any case is a continuation of the notorious imperialism that the USA is known for.
American governments, through the CIA, have been involved in the deliberate sabotage of governments of many nations in Latin America and Africa under the nebulous guise of protecting the so-called interest of the USA.
But is the interest of the USA bigger than that of the international laws that prohibits the invasion of a sovereign state and the abduction of a sitting head of state who under the extant constitution enjoys immunity from arrest?
What will the world look like, should another nation stage similar military action targeting Whitehouse and if a serving President of the USA is kidnapped and subjected to local criminal trial by the invading country?
This new world order of MIGHT IS RIGHT which Trump and Putin of USA and Russia are building up is against the tenets and principles underpining the establishment of the UN and the introduction of international laws and global humanitarian laws.
President Trump is not bigger than all of the world and must be told the whole truth and nothing but the truth that he ought to free Maduro immediately because his kidnapping and that of his wife violate international laws. So why is America opposed to China’s attempt to take over Taiwan? Why is America opposed to the military invasion of Ukraine by Russia? If the stronger nations are allowed to destabilise smaller nations at their whims and caprices of the leaders of these powerful nations, it would automatically result in the death of the United Nations’ Organisation. This new world order of MIGHT IS RIGHT must be treated as being too risky to be allowed.
Onwubiko is the founder of HURIWA and former National Commissioner of the National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria.
