Falana accuses Trump of breaching international law in Venezuela, urges US sanctions

By : Guardian Nigeria

Date: 4 January 2026 10:14am WAT

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Femi Falana

Femi Falana

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 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.

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