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.
Credit: Nnenna Ibeh/Premium Times
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