Lawyer Raises Alarm Over Status Of Detained Lance Corporal

Human rights activist and National President of Revolutionary Lawyers’ Forum, Tope Akinyode, has raised alarm over the health status of his client, Lance Corporal Martins Idiakpini, a Nigerian soldier, who was arrested by the Nigerian army for criticising Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, over the poor handling of the security situation in the country.

The Lance Corporal got into trouble with the Military for criticizing the army’s failure to combat and destroy Boko Haram in a video that went viral.

In the video, he said Buratai had failed by failing to provide adequate resources to soldiers combating the Boko Haram terrorists. He also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to take the fight against insurgency serious.

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However, Akinyode, Idiakpini’s lawyer, is speculating that Idiakpini might have been killed by the army as punishment for his action, as he has not been seen or heard from since he was arrested over a month ago.

This uncertainty is coming after the continuous refusal of the Nigerian army to allow anyone see Idiakpini on two separate occasions.

Justice Anwuli Chikere of the Abuja Federal Court, had earlier ruled that it was unlawful for the army to continuously deny family and lawyer access to see Idiakpini. The judge ordered that Idiakpini’s lawyer be granted access to him. The judge also ordered that the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Chief of Army Staff must make sure the judgement is obeyed.

According to the lawyer, the refusal of the army, under the leadership of Buratai, for him to see Idiakpini is an unfortunate disregard of court order.

Tope Akinyode said, “Buratai is tearing the constitution apart and rendering useless the concept of the rule of law. He is about to become a dictator before our very eyes.”

Lance Corporal Idiakpini was arrested with his wife, Victoria, but the wife was released a few days later by the Army.