The Nigerian Army has been sued to court after it illegally arrested and detained a soldier for criticizing the country’s security chiefs.
The army was dragged before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Lance Corporal Martins had earlier released a video criticizing the security chiefs over the state of terrorism in the county.
In the video which was released on the 23rd of June, 2020, Martins spoke about the incessant killings of citizens in the country.
He also noted in the video that he is not guaranteed of his freedom after the video goes out. He, however, said that he is not letting that, or anything else, stop him from speaking up.
Not long after he released the video, Lance Corporal Martins was arrested.
Also, a few days later, his wife, Mrs Victoria Idakpini, was arrested too “leaving her three children in the care of no one.”
After the illegal arrests, the Nigerian Army was dragged to court. The Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, were also included in the suit.
Mr Tope Akinyode, National President of Revolutionary Lawyer’s Forum, Confirmed the new development on Twitter.
“We are of the considered view that the continued detention of Lance Corporal Martins violates his fundamental human rights much as it violates the extant provisions of the Armed Forces Act.
“Unfortunately, the Nigerian Army displayed a higher degree of despotism on 25th June when again it illegally arrested and has continued to detain the wife of Lance Corporal Martins, Mrs Victoria Idakpini, leaving her three children in the care of no one.
“This unimaginable degree of wickedness from the Nigerian Army is worth the condemnation of all and sundry, to say the least.
“Already, Nigerians are daily losing confidence in the activities of the army but this recent arrest is a big blow on the generality of Nigerians.
“We shall battle the oppressive and abrasive tendencies of the Nigerian Army and we’ll ensure that justice is served in this case.”
the African Action Congress has also come out to call out the NIgerian Army . According to AAC, they arrested his wife, Mrs Victoria, leaving behind the three children; 2-years-old-twins and an older child, 3-years-old.
