The defence counsel for detained activist,Chidiebere Mark popularly known as Justice Crack, Dr Sam Amadi has called on Nigeria Army to foster better civil-military relations and welcome public feedback regarding personnel welfare.
Amadi said such approach will win the trust and confidence of Nigerians, rather than react with hostility, particularly when it involves the welfare of its personnel.
He emphasized that security agencies should encourage honest citizens feedback to drive institutional improvement.
The legal counsel dismissed claims that Mark’s video was intended to undermine national security or incite unrest, labeling such accusations as malicious miscommunications.
Amadi decried how Mark was unlawfully abducted and allegedly subjected to ill-treatment by the military.
The activist was abducted on April 28 and for five days his whereabouts was unknown to his family and friends, leading to public outcry before his whereabouts was made public.
The Nigerian Army finally confirmed picking him days after he was declared missing, after posting a video alleging poor welfare and feeding conditions of soldiers.
The army however said he was being investigated for breaching social media policy and attempting to incite discontent among troops, before handing him to Department of State Service.
The DSS subsequently charged him to court on three counts of breach of public peace, cybercrime and felony.
His case was given an accelerated hearing and the judge directed that he be remanded in DSS Custody.
Before his appearance in Court, he had been in custody for five days incommunicado without his family knowing his whereabouts contrary to the provisions of the Administration Of Criminal Justice Act
Civil society groups have condemned the nature of his abduction by the Nigeria Army, and also wondered whether it was constitutional to arrest a person, and hand him over for prosecution without granting him access to a lawyer or family?
