A serving officer of the Nigerian Army, Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji, has instituted legal action against the Federal Government at the Federal High Court of Nigeria in Abuja, challenging what he described as his prolonged detention without trial.
In an originating motion filed under the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009, the officer is seeking his immediate release from custody and N500 million in damages for alleged violations of his fundamental rights.
The suit names the Attorney General of the Federation, the Chief of Army Staff, the Nigerian Army and the Chief of Defence Intelligence as respondents, contesting the legality of his continued detention.
Through his counsel, Olalekan Ojo, the applicant argued that his detention for over six months without being formally charged constitutes a breach of his constitutional rights to personal liberty and dignity.
Court filings indicate that Ma’aji was arrested around September 30, 2025, alongside others over allegations of involvement in a plot to overthrow the government.
He, however, maintains that since his arrest, he has been held at a military facility in Abuja without access to his family, legal representatives or adequate medical care.
The applicant further contended that the respondents failed to arraign him within a reasonable timeframe as required under Sections 34 and 35 of the 1999 Constitution, as well as relevant provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Among the reliefs sought, he is asking the court to declare his detention unconstitutional and order his immediate release.
In the alternative, he urged the court to compel the respondents to bring him before a competent court within seven days.
He is also seeking N500 million as compensation for the alleged unlawful detention.
An affidavit supporting the application stated that the officer has been held incommunicado since his arrest, with no formal charges filed despite claims that investigations have been concluded.
As of the time of filing, no date had been fixed for the hearing of the case.
