Lawyers to Sue FG, South-East Governors and Security Agencies Over Missing Residents
A coalition of independent legal practitioners under the banner of Fiat Justitia has announced plans to institute legal proceedings against the Federal Government, the South-East Governors’ Forum, and the Nigerian Army over the fate of South-East residents allegedly missing, abducted, or detained under controversial circumstances. The Nigerian Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS) are also listed as intended defendants.
At a press briefing in Umuahia, Fiat Justitia’s representative, Adekoye Segun, accused security agencies of failing to account for numerous individuals arrested for alleged membership of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). He alleged that many of those taken during midnight raids were transferred to military detention centres outside the South-East, including Wawa Barracks in Niger State, where they have been held for years without trial.
The lawyers stated that their coordinated legal action will demand accountability from the Federal Government, regional governors, and security agencies, compelling them to provide sworn explanations for the whereabouts of missing persons and the legality of prolonged detentions without judicial oversight.
Fiat Justitia claims to represent families of missing and abducted persons, including those presumed dead. The group presented a list of 80 individuals allegedly unaccounted for, supported by affidavits, photographs, medical reports, and survivor testimonies. Victims of incidents such as the Aba raids, Operation Python Dance in Umuahia, and the Nkpor massacre were cited as examples of unresolved cases.
The lawyers argue that detaining individuals for four to eight years without trial violates constitutional guarantees of liberty and fair hearing. They insist that authorities must either prosecute those arrested or release them, stressing that executive continuity and accountability cannot be ignored in matters of fundamental rights.
