A group of revolutionary lawyers have dragged the Nigerian Army before the Federal High Court, Abuja over the unlawful arrest and detention of Lance Corporal Martins and his wife, Mrs Victoria Idakpini.
This is coming days after Lance Corporal Martins released a video criticizing security chiefs in the country for not doing enough to end terrorism in the country.
Inside the video which was first shared online on June 23, 2020, Martins lamented the needless killings of citizens.
Martins added that he knows he may no longer have his freedom after the release of the video but said it won’t stop him from speaking.
Recall that Lance Corporal Martins was arrested after the video went viral and his wife identified as Mrs Victoria Idakpini was arrested too “leaving her three children in the care of no one”.
In a lawsuit demanding the release of the lance corporal and his wife, the group of revolutionary lawyers joined the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami in the suit.
Confirming the institution of the lawsuit, Mr Tope Akinyode, National President of Revolutionary Lawyer’s Forum, said 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.”
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