A Nigerian human rights lawyer and a senior advocate of Nigeria, Mr Femi Falana, has noted that the Nigerian military lacks the power to arrest, investigate or detain any individual who is not subject to the Armed Forces Act or any other military law.
Speaking further, the human rights lawyer made it known that the Nigerian Military cannot usurp the powers of the Nigerian Police Force, under Section 4 and 84 of the Police Act, which gives the police the power to detect and investigate crimes in the country.
According to Sahara Reporters, Mr Femi Falana made this disclosure in a statement he released on Wednesday, while reacting to the unlawful detention of some innocent members of Okuama Community, by the Nigerian Military.
Some parts of the statement read: "The Federal High Court held that the Nigerian Army lacks the power to arrest, investigate, and hold in custody, anyone who is not subject to the Armed Forces Act or any other military law.
"The trial judge, Justice Taiwo Taiwo warned the military not to usurp the powers of the Nigerian Police Force under Sections 4 and 84 of the Police Act which empowers the police to detect and investigate crimes in Nigeria."
Furthermore, he urged the Attorney General of the Federation to do something about the violation of the human rights of innocent members of Okuama community, and their unlawful arrest and detention in connection with the alleged murder of 16 soldiers.
In addition, he made it known that the authorities of the Nigerian Military should be made to understand that the Nigerian Army does not the power to arrest, detain, investigate, and charge civilians.