Nigerian blogger and human rights activist Chidiebere Justice Mark, popularly known as “Justice Crack,” has filed a ₦5.3 billion fundamental rights suit against the Nigerian Army, the Chief of Army Staff and the Attorney-General of the Federation over his alleged torture, detention and seizure of a vehicle following his arrest earlier this year.
Justice Crack filed the action before the Federal High Court in Abuja through his legal team led by Professor Sam Amadi. The originating motion is dated August 26, 2026, while details of the suit became public on Wednesday, September 30.
The Nigerian Army, Chief of Army Staff and Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice are listed as the first, second and third respondents respectively.
The suit was brought under the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009, the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights and provisions of Nigeria's 1999 Constitution.
Justice Crack is asking the court to declare that the Nigerian Army and Chief of Army Staff lacked the statutory authority to arrest, detain, investigate or torture him over the offences for which he was arrested.
He alleged that soldiers arrested him on April 28, 2026, and detained him until April 30 before he was transferred to the Department of State Services.
The blogger claims he was subjected to severe and degrading treatment while in military custody.
“During my detention, I was subjected to severe and degrading treatment,” Justice Crack said in a statement announcing the legal action.
He alleged that he was handcuffed and blindfolded, kept under the sun during the day, exposed to extremely cold conditions at night and denied adequate access to water and other basic necessities.
Justice Crack is asking the Federal High Court to declare his alleged arrest, detention, investigation and torture between April 28 and April 30 unconstitutional, unlawful and illegal.
He is also seeking an injunction restraining the Nigerian Army and its officers, commands, formations and sections from further arresting, detaining, investigating or torturing him in connection with the matter.
The activist is demanding ₦5 billion in exemplary damages against the respondents for what he described as humiliation, harassment, embarrassment, intimidation, suffering and hardship resulting from his alleged treatment.
He is seeking another ₦100 million in exemplary damages over the alleged seizure and damage of a Hyundai saloon car connected with his arrest.
Justice Crack is also demanding ₦200 million in general damages for the alleged violation of his fundamental rights and seizure of the vehicle, bringing the total damages sought to ₦5.3 billion.
Court documents cited in reporting identify the vehicle as a Hyundai saloon car registered in the name of Yusuf Salim Ibrahim.
Justice Crack alleges that the Army seized the vehicle on April 28 and did not release it until June 9.
He further claims the vehicle was returned in a damaged condition and that its seizure was carried out without a court order.
The fundamental rights action follows Justice Crack's arrest earlier this year over social media publications concerning the welfare and feeding of Nigerian soldiers.
The Nigerian Army publicly confirmed his arrest in May.
Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, said the Army's attention had been drawn to complaints made by soldiers concerning feeding and other welfare issues that were subsequently posted on social media by Justice Crack.
The Army said its preliminary investigation indicated that Justice Crack's communications with some soldiers went beyond reporting their welfare complaints.
According to the military, he appeared to be encouraging discontent among personnel, while one conversation allegedly bordered on subversion.
The Army said Justice Crack and the soldiers involved were taken into custody for investigation, adding that the blogger was subsequently transferred to the appropriate civilian authorities for further investigation and possible prosecution.
“The Nigerian Army remains committed to the rule of law and will continue to collaborate with relevant agencies to ensure justice is served,” the Army said at the time.
Justice Crack was subsequently transferred to the DSS and arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja on May 4.
He was charged with three counts relating to alleged cybercrime, false publication and breach of public peace arising from material published concerning Nigerian soldiers.
The DSS alleged that a viral video posted through his X account contained false claims about the feeding of soldiers and was capable of damaging the reputation of the Nigerian Army.
Justice Crack pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The court initially ordered that he remain in DSS custody pending further proceedings.
His legal team later applied for bail.
On May 18, Justice Abdulmalik granted him bail in the sum of ₦5 million with one surety in the same amount.
The court ordered that the surety must be a federal civil servant not below Grade Level 15 and must provide evidence of residence, employment and financial standing.
Justice Crack was also directed to deposit his international passport with the court.
During proceedings before the bail decision, a DSS witness, Uruntu Douglas, testified that the case had been transferred to the agency from the Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps.
The witness told the court that investigators extracted information from Justice Crack's telephone, including videos, communications with soldiers and material from his social media accounts.
The prosecution alleged that soldiers had shared images with Justice Crack which were subsequently used in videos published online without proper verification.
Those allegations form part of the continuing criminal proceedings and have not resulted in a conviction.
Justice Crack has maintained his not-guilty plea.
His newly filed fundamental rights case is separate from that criminal prosecution.
Justice Crack said the purpose of the new action is to have the court determine whether his rights were violated during the period surrounding his arrest and detention.
He said he returned to court on September 28 as proceedings in the criminal case continued but maintained that the allegations concerning his treatment required separate judicial consideration.
“This fundamental rights action is not an attempt to interfere with the ongoing criminal proceedings,” he said.
“It is a lawful step taken through my legal team to seek judicial determination of the circumstances surrounding my detention and the violation of my constitutional rights.”
Justice Crack said he had chosen the judicial process because he believes every Nigerian, irrespective of views or circumstances, is entitled to the protection of the law.
The Nigerian Bar Association had earlier taken note of the controversy surrounding his arrest.
In its May 2026 National Executive Council report, the NBA said the case raised questions about the balance between national-security considerations and constitutional rights, particularly freedom of expression, personal liberty and access to information.
The Nigerian Army has maintained its earlier position that the arrest followed an investigation involving alleged attempts to incite military personnel and possible breaches of the Armed Forces' Social Media Policy.
The new ₦5.3 billion action now places Justice Crack's allegations of torture, unlawful detention and seizure of property directly before the Federal High Court for judicial determination.
At the time of the latest reports, the Nigerian Army, Chief of Army Staff and Attorney-General of the Federation had not publicly issued a response specifically addressing the newly filed fundamental rights suit.
The damages sought by Justice Crack have not been awarded. They form part of the remedies he is asking the court to grant if his claims succeed.
The court will therefore determine the allegations contained in the suit, the responses of the Nigerian Army and other respondents, and whether Justice Crack's fundamental rights were violated during his arrest and detention.
Justice Crack said he would allow the courts to determine the matters before them and avoid further comments capable of prejudicing the proceedings.
“I am seeking justice, accountability, and respect for the rule of law,” he said.
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