A senior officer of the Nigerian Army, Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji, has taken legal action against the Federal Government at the Federal High Court in Abuja over what he describes as prolonged and unlawful detention.
The case, filed under the Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure Rules (2009), seeks his immediate release and ₦500 million in damages for alleged violations of his constitutional rights.
Named as defendants in the suit are the Attorney General of the Federation, the Chief of Army Staff, the Nigerian Army, and the Chief of Defence Intelligence.
Central to the case is the question of why the officer has remained in custody for several months without being formally charged or presented before a court.
Breach Of Right
Through his counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), Ma’aji argued that his detention since late September 2025 breaches his fundamental rights to personal liberty and human dignity as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.
According to court filings, the colonel was arrested around September 30, 2025, alongside others over allegations of involvement in a plot to overthrow the government. Since then, he has reportedly been held in a military facility in Abuja.
Ma’aji further claimed that he has been denied access to his family and legal representatives, and that he has not received adequate medical care while in custody.
He contended that despite claims by authorities that investigations have been concluded, no formal charges have been brought against him within the legally prescribed timeframe.
His legal team anchored their arguments on provisions of the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Request To The Court
Among the reliefs sought, Ma’aji is asking the court to declare his detention unlawful and order his immediate release.
Alternatively, he is requesting that the court compel the authorities to arraign him within seven days.
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An affidavit submitted by a litigation officer in his lawyer’s firm also alleged that since his arrest, he has been held incommunicado and has not been officially charged.
As of the time of filing this report, the court has yet to schedule a hearing date for the case.