Buratai, Malami to face contempt proceedings over soldier arrested for criticising army chief

 

Tope Akinyode, counsel to Martins Idakpini, a lance corporal, says contempt of court proceedings will be instituted against Tukur Buratai, chief of army staff, and Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation.

 

Idakpini was arrested for criticising the efforts of the army chief in containing the Boko Haram insurgency in the north-east.

 

Thereafter, the Abuja federal high court ordered the army to grant Idakpini access to his wife and lawyer but that ruling has not been complied with.

 

Instead, the army has reportedly moved the lance corporal to Sokoto to be court-martialed.

 

In a statement on Monday, Akinyode said his client has developed ulcer because he has been denied food.

 

“Recall that on 22nd July, 2020, Hon Justice Chikere of the Abuja Federal High Court ordered the chief of army staff, Tukur Brutai, and the attorney-general of the federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN, to grant Lance Corporal Martins Idakpini, a detained soldier, access to his lawyer and family after I argued an ex parte application,” the lawyer said.

 

“We have served copies of the court order on both the chief of staff and the AGF. Also, I have personally discussed with the AGF over the issue and he assured me that the court order would be complied with. However, the reverse has been the case.

 

“The detained soldier has also been secretly moved to Sokoto to face a court martial and the military is illegally forcing a lawyer on him.

 

“We have considered the available legal options and since all the civil overtures to ensure compliance with the court order has broken down, we shall immediately proceed to court tomorrow and commence a committal for contempt proceedings against the chief of army staff and the AGF.”