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Burma’s children, Ahmed Abdullahi, 16; Muhammad Abdullahi, 11; Haruna Zarkya, 18 and Yahaya Ibrahim, 7, were allegedly arrested in Lagos on July 13, 2013 by the Nigerian Army on the suspicion that they were members of the Boko Haram sect.
The four of them were said to have been arrested during a military raid on their house, at Mafoluku, when their father was away to Maiduguri, Borno State.
Burma through his counsel, Mr. Christopher Okafor, is also asking for N10m claim from the Nigerian Army, Chief of Army Staff, General Officer, commanding the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Lagos and the Attorney-General of the Federation, who have been joined as respondents in the suit.
In his submissions, Okafor argued that the arrest of the teenagers was illegal and constitutes a breach of their rights to person liberty.
He described the suspicion of the teens being involved in terrorist activities as both unreasonable and laughable saying they had only fled to Lagos from Maiduguri for safety.
In the affidavit filed by Burma, he averred that his temporary relocation with his family from Maiduguri to Lagos was due to the growing insecurity in the northeast Nigeria.
He is seeking an order of the court for the release of his wards from military detention, a N10m claim and a public apology over the illegal detention.
Earlier at the resumed hearing of the case on Monday, Okafor notified the court of the absence of the defence despite repeated notice served.
He also informed that the counter-affidavit filed by the defence was out of time, adding that they had also failed to regularize the affidavit and pay default fee.
He therefore urged the court to strike out the defendants’ counter-affidavit and allow him move and adopt his application before the court.
Justice Okon Abang accordingly granted him leave to move his application and adopt his written address.
The judge adjourned ruling on the matter till September 26, 2014.
Source: Punch
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