'Not your place' Court tells Nigerian Army to stop declaring citizens wanted

The Nigerian Army has lost its right and power to declare citizens wanted after a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja ruled against the force in that regards.

Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu gave ruling after a Nigerian activist, Perry Brimah, dragged the army to court after being declared wanted in January 2019.

It would be recalled that Brimah had started a campaign that raised funds for the Nigerian Army operatives and vigilantes fighting Boko Haram in the northeast region.

The activist, outraged by the treatment of the troops fighting the insurgents, opened a GoFundMe account for the soldiers, but the initiative did not go down well with the leadership of the army who described it as fraudulent.”

Brimah then went to drag the army to court for alleged defamation, adding that he filed the suit on behalf of Nigerians who are being intimidated by the operatives of the security force.

Delivering her judgement, Justice Ojukwu said Nigerian Army has no right to declare Brimah wanted without the consent of the law enforcement agencies.

“The army or defendant has no vires to declare the plaintiff wanted without due process of law,” she said.

“The defendant cannot arrest the plaintiff arbitrarily without making a formal report to law enforcement agency with the mandate to enforce law and order, otherwise it would transmute to self-help,” part of the ruling read.