Innocent Anaba
20 August 2008
LAGOS lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, yesterday described as illegal and unconstitutional, the continued detention of 28 Nigerian soldiers, who took part in the United Nations Peace Keeping Operations in Liberia and DSP Ibrahim Magu, former Head of the Economic Governance Unit of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Falana in a statement in Lagos said, "last year a detachment of Nigerian soldiers joined the UN peace keeping operations in Liberia . The monthly salary of US$1,048 per person paid by the UN for the seven months they were there, was illegally withheld by a cartel in the Nigerian Army.
Unlike their counterparts in the UN contingent, the Nigerian soldiers had to fend for themselves. They were even compelled to buy their uniforms and boots even though provisions were made for them by the UN".
Further he said, "it is equally disturbing that Magu, has been detained for over two weeks at the pleasure of the Inspector General of Police. Like the detained soldiers, Mr. Magu has not been charged to court for any criminal offence whatsoever".
According to him, "the soldiers returned home to demand for their legitimate entitlements only to be told to report at the military formation in Akure, Ondo State . They complied but on getting to Akure they were ignored for two weeks. As they faced a threat of being declared AWOL in the various units of the Army, they protested peacefully for the payment of their withheld entitlements".
"It was at this stage that the sum of U$5,040 was reluctantly paid to each of them. The demand for the outstanding sum which ranged from US$800 to US$1,500 per person led to the arrest of the so called ring leaders among the soldiers. They have been detained in dehumanizing condition at the military barracks in Akure since June 5, 2008", he said.
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