Lawyer Drags Nigerian Army To Court Over The Illegal Arrest Of Lance Coporal Martins
In a statement that was released and signed by the revolutionary lawyer’s forum which is headed by Tope Akinyode
“We have just filed an action at the Federal High Court against the Nigerian Army, Chief of Army Staff and the Attorney of the Federation of Nigeria over the unlawful arrest and detention of Lance Corporal Martins and his Wife, Mrs Victoria Idakpini.
On 23rd June 2020, the Nigerian Army arrested Lance Corporal Martins for being critical of the army chief of staff over the handling of security crises and lack of adequate amenities to battle terrorism.
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 3 children, – twins of 2 years old and another who just clocked 3 years to 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 loosing 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.”
Tope Akinyode
National President of Revolutionary Lawyer’s Forum