Two journalists, Ahmed Idris and Ali
Mustapha, working for foreign news
channel, Al-Jazeera, have sued the 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
General.
Mr. Olukolade could not be reached for comments.

Caution/Dont. Try this after may 29

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