Military Court Grants Soldier Who Criticised General Buratai Bail

A military court-martial sitting in Sokoto has granted bail to Lance Corporal Martins Idakpini who arrested and detained for criticising the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai.

Naija News reports that this was disclosed in a statement on Thursday by Tope Akinyode, the soldier’s lawyer.

Akinyode said: “Court-martial grants bail to Lance Corporal Martins Idakpini. The court sitting in Sokoto made the order today after I argued the bail application.

“Idakpini was arrested for criticising army authorities. He’s been detained for 7 months without access to his family.”

Mr. Martin’s was arrested on June 20 after he released video online condemning Buratai and President Muhammadu Buhari over alleged failure to provide adequate resources to soldiers combating Boko Haram.

He was detained in Abuja and denied access to a lawyer for a month, until a rights lawyer, Mr Akinyode, approached a Federal High Court, Abuja to file a rights violation lawsuit.

On July 22, Justice A. I. Chikere granted Mr. Martins access to his lawyer and relative. He said the Nigerian Army’s action is against the fundamental human rights of citizens.