Mrs. Victoria Idakpini, the Wife of Corporal Lance Martins, the soldier that called on his superiors to resign as they had failed in the war against terrorism, have sued the Nigerian Army, the Chief of Army Staff, and the Attorney-General of the Federation for breach of fundamental human rights.
Mrs. Lance was arrested days after her husband’s arrest by the Nigeria Army, in the video released by Corporal Lance Idakpani, he berated the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai; and the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, for being incompetent in the war against terrorism in Nigeria.
Mr. Tope Akinyode, the family’s lawyer had said that he has filed a suit in court on behalf of the family seeking an order to pressure the respondents to release Mrs. Lance and her husband immediately.
The arrested couple, in a supporting affidavit deposed on their behalf by Apeh Abuchi, said they had been denied access to a lawyer and had not been informed of the crime they committed since their arrest.
Akinyode who is the National President, Revolutionary Lawyers’ Forum, in a signed statement on Monday, described the continued detention as illegal and unjust.
The statement reads in part, “We have just filed an action at the Federal High Court against the Nigerian Army, Chief of Army Staff and the Attorney General of the Federation of Nigeria over the unlawful arrest and detention of Lance Corporal Martins and his wife, Mrs. Victoria Idakpini.
“On June 23, 2020, the Nigerian Army arrested Lance Corporal Martins for being critical of the army chief of staff over the handling of security crises and lack of adequate amenities to battle terrorism.
“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 June 25 when it illegally arrested and has continued to detain the wife of Corporal Lance Martins, Mrs. Victoria Idakpini leaving her three children, two-year-old twins and another who just clocked three to the care of no one.” the statement concluded.
Nwada Ugochinyere Onyechere reporting, Obinwannem News
