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.”
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