The House of Representatives is to invite the Chief of Defense Staff, the Chief of Army Staff and the Commanding officer of the 177 Battalion over an alleged unlawful arrest and detention of a community leader in Nasarawa State.
Honourable Mansur Soro, who moved the motion during Tuesday’s plenary, disclosed that on December 9, 2024, officers of the 177 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, with no prior invitation or court injunction, arrested Bello Badejo, the community leader of Maliya town, Nassarawa State.
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa; the Chief of Army Staff (CAS), Lt-Gen. Olufemi Oloyede and the Commanding Officer of 177 Battalion had been criticised over the unlawful arrest and detention of Bodejo.
He further stated that one week after, Badejo was yet to be arraigned, which signifies an unlawful act by the Nigerian Army and a violation of the fundamental human rights as provided in sections 34, 35 and 36 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution as amended.
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It called on the “Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Army Staff to order the immediate release of Alhaji Bello Badejo from unlawful detention and to also apologize to him for infringing on his constitutionally guaranteed fundamental human rights.
“Invite the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff and the Commanding Officer of 177 Battalion to cause an appearance before the House Committees on Army, Human Rights and Justice on Thursday December 20, 2024 at 3:00pm to explain why officers under their command violated the relevant provisions of the Nigerian Constitution”.
The service chiefs are to appear before the House Committees on Army, Human Rights and Justice on Thursday December 20, 2024.
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