The Nigerian Army has allegedly transferred Lance Corporal Martins Idakpini to Sokoto for a secret trial as a prelude to court martial.
Tope Akinyode, Idakpini’s lawyer, made the disclosure on Saturday.
He said, “Information reaching me right now indicates that Lance Corporal Martins has been surreptitiously moved from Abuja to Sokoto to be tried before a martial court on Monday.
“I’m also informed that the army is forcing a lawyer from within the Force on Lance Corporal Martins in a desperate attempt to jeopardise the case and wrongly convict the detained soldier.
“Lance Corporal Martins has been brutalised and subjected to a great deal of dehumanising treatment. He was also denied food and has therefore developed ulcer.”
Idakpini was arrested in June 2020 shortly after he made a viral video castigating Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Burutai, for the failings of the army to combat and destroy Boko Haram.
Since his arrest, he has remained in detention, incomunicado.