Al-jazeera journalists sue Nigerian Army, army chief over illegal detention

Al-jazeera journalists sue Nigerian Army, army chief over illegal detention

Nigerian army and its chief, Kenneth Minimah, for
trampling on their fundamental rights.
Messrs. Idris and Mustapha – reporter and cameraman
respectively of the news television – were arrested on
March 24 in their hotel room in Maiduguri, Borno State
for “loitering” in areas were combat operations were still
on-going.
A statement by the Defence Headquarters said the
journalists were moving around “restricted areas” in Yobe
and Borno States without protection, accreditation or
clearance.
The journalists, represented by lawyer and human rights
activists, Femi Falana, sought a declaration that the arrest
and their continued detention by the military were illegal
and unconstitutional, thereby violating their right to
personal liberty guaranteed by Section 34, 35 and 41 of
the constitution and Article 5, 6 and 12 of the African
Charter on Human and peoples’ Right Act.
They also sought an order directing the Nigerian military
and Mr. Minimah to release the journalists from illegal
military custody immediately.
The reliefs were sought on the ground that the applicants
were not soldiers and that the military had no right to
arrest them.
The reliefs also argued that “loitering or wandering” were
not offences known to law; and the applicants were
entitled to their liberty, freedom of movement and
integrity to human person as guaranteed by Section 34, 35
and 41 of the constitution.
Peter Nkanga of the Committee to Protect Journalists told
PREMIUM TIMES the journalists went incommunicado
since 10:10 p.m. on Wednesday. He said their phones
were seized from them by the military.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Army, Sani
Usman, directed all enquiries on the matter to the
Director of Defence Information, Chris Olukolade, a Major