Nigerian Army Accuses 15 Detained Cattle Traders of Collaborating with IPOB and ESN to Assassinate an Officer
In an ex parte motion deposed to by Lt Col. Chidi Christopher Egbem, the Nigerian Army claimed that the 15 accused persons participated in several terrorism activities, but the military failed to provide details of when and where; leaving loopholes.
The Nigerian Army in a plot to implicate 15 Abuja-based cattle dealers in terrorist activities has stated that the detainees colluded with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) members to assassinate one of its officers.
In an ex parte motion deposed to by Lt Col. Chidi Christopher Egbem, the Nigerian Army claimed that the 15 accused persons participated in several terrorism activities, but the military failed to provide details of when and where; leaving loopholes.
The affidavit in support of the ex parte motion seen by Fusion Chronicle Reporters indicated that the suspects were actually taken into custody long before the said attacks on military and civilian targets across the country’s North-East zone.
The document directly linked the businessmen to Boko Haram activities, and in the gruesome murder of 17 Nigerian Army officers in Ukwuoma community in Delta State.
According to the ex parte motion, the men participated in the deadly terrorists attack on Joint Task Force (JTF) at Askira Uba on June 25, 2024. In addition, they were said to have masterminded suicide bombings in Gwoza and a military base in Damboa, Borno State on June 29 and 30 respectively.
However, Barr Abdulwahab Aliyu, the attorney, providing legal services for the suspects, countered the military allegation with an alibi.
He argued that his clients couldn’t have committed those crimes while in military detention facility.
He further argued, “Twelve of them were initially arrested on May 17, 2024 and three others subsequently. How then could they have participated in terrorists attack on targets as claimed while in detention?”
On November 23, 2024, Fusion Chronicle reported that in defiance to a court order, the Nigerian Army authorities were holding in their custody in Abuja, 15 businessmen who deal in cattle, Fusion Chronicle Reporters has learnt.
The military had also reportedly seized over N88million and 341 heads of cattle belonging to the cattle dealers.
Fusion Chronicle Reporters had gathered that 12 of the men were arrested at a military checkpoint in the afternoon on May 17, 2024 on their way to purchase cows in some communities in Borno State, according to their lawyer, Barr Abdulwahab Aliyu.
Their only offence, Fusion Chronicle Reporters learnt, was being in possession of large sums of cash on a broad daylight in the highway (Federal road), specifically between Buratai and Mirngha, in the Biu Local Government Area of Borno state.
In a follow up story on November 25, Fusion Chronicle Reporters reported how Shagari Usman Yusuf, who is the Chairman of the Dei-Dei international livestock market in the Nigerian federal capital, Abuja, was arrested and detained by the Nigerian Army.
As gathered, Yusuf was arrested shortly after he featured and escalated the alleged illegal detention of 12 members of his association and two others on the Abuja-based human rights radio and television programme, “Brekete Family” in Abuja.
Since their arrests in May, they remained indefinitely incarceration, without being charged or arraigned. In reaction they sought legal redress and the order enforcing their fundamental rights was granted by a court of competent jurisdiction, according to their lawyer.
“Delivered on August 6, 2024, the judgement ordered the release of the 15 judgment creditors and the release of the N88,737,200 confiscated; as well as 341 cattle seized or in lieu thereof to pay N153,450,000 only.
“N10,000,000 damages for unlawful arrest and detention for each of the 15 Detainees and the association. In contempt of court order, the Nigerian Army refused to comply or appeal the judgment in time.
“Surprisingly in further abuse of court process, they approached a court of coordinate jurisdiction with a motion exparte, seeking to keep them in perpetual detention in Abuja.
“Meanwhile, they had earlier agreed to release the judgement creditors without their seized money and animals, which we refused,” Barr Aliyu said.
Furthermore, the judgement creditors filed for garnishee order against 18 Nigerian Army bank accounts, the proceedings began today (Monday).
However, counsel for the Nigerian Army, Barr MA. Adam, appeared with a motion to seek to stay execution.
“We opposed the motion on grounds that they did not served us, secondly it was filed out of time, thirdly, they’re in contempt of court; since they’re contempt the court the court cannot listen to them. But the court reluctantly on condition that they pay N500,000 each for the two cases, that’s the first condition; the second condition is that they should produced the judgement creditors in court on the adjourned date, being December 10,” Barr Aliyu added.
As it stands, family members of the detained persons believe their loved ones were being held arbitrarily in detention to frustrate them to abandon their seized money and animals.
Some of the family members lamented how they were left stranded since the incident six months ago, with no means of feeding or educating their children.
They appealed to the military high command and President Bola Tinubu to wade into the matter.
