Blogger ‘Justice Crack’ Sues Nigerian Army, Army Chief, AGF For N5.3bn Over Alleged Torture, Illegal Detention
Months after his arrest triggered controversy over his treatment by security authorities, blogger and human rights activist Chidiebere Justice Mark, popularly known as Justice Crack, has taken the matter to court.
Mark is demanding a total of N5.3 billion from the Nigerian Army, the Chief of Army Staff and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
His lawsuit centres on what he says happened after soldiers arrested him in Abuja on April 28, 2026.
The case has now placed his account of the detention directly before the Federal High Court, where he is asking the court to determine whether his arrest, detention, treatment and the seizure of his vehicle violated his constitutional rights.
Mark filed the fundamental rights action through a legal team led by Prof. Sam Amadi.
The suit, identified as Chidiebere Justice Mark v. The Nigerian Army & 2 Ors, was filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja pursuant to the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution.
The originating motion is dated August 26, 2026.
The Nigerian Army is listed as the first respondent, while the Chief of Army Staff and the Attorney-General of the Federation are named as the second and third respondents.
At the centre of the case is Mark’s claim that the Army had no legal authority to arrest, detain, investigate or subject him to the treatment he described.
He wants the court to declare the actions unconstitutional, unlawful and beyond the powers of the respondents.
The vehicle seizure
There is also a separate dispute over Mark’s vehicle.
According to the court documents, soldiers seized a Hyundai saloon car on April 28.
The vehicle was registered in the name of Yusuf Salim Ibrahim.
Mark’s case is that the car remained in custody until June 9, 2026, when it was eventually released.
He alleges that it was returned in a damaged condition and that its seizure and detention took place without a court order.
For this aspect of the case, he is asking the court to award N100 million in exemplary damages.
But the larger financial claim concerns what Mark says happened to him personally.
What Mark says happened in detention
In his statement, the blogger described his treatment in detention as severe and degrading.
He said he was handcuffed and blindfolded, exposed to the sun during the day and kept in extremely cold conditions at night.
He also alleged that he was denied adequate access to water and other basic necessities.
Mark said he was later transferred from military custody to the Department of State Services, DSS, where he spent approximately 21 days.
He recalled that period as one in which he was uncertain about what would happen to him, saying he cried out for help and relied on his faith during the ordeal.
SaharaReporters had earlier reported that Mark was released from DSS custody after nearly four weeks in detention.
His criminal case, however, did not end with his release.
The criminal case
The DSS had brought Mark before the Federal High Court in Abuja over a three-count charge connected to a viral video and statements published through his X account.
The prosecution accused him of circulating false information concerning the welfare and feeding of Nigerian Army personnel.
The charges also alleged that the material could generate public unrest, fear or a breach of peace.
When he was arraigned in May, Mark pleaded not guilty.
The court subsequently granted him bail on May 18, 2026, with the conditions stated in the report including a N5 million bond, one surety in like sum and the surrender of his passport to the court.
The criminal proceedings have continued separately from the new fundamental-rights action.
Why the Army arrested him
The Nigerian Army has previously given a different explanation for the events that led to Mark’s arrest.
The military said its attention was drawn to posts Mark made concerning complaints from soldiers about feeding and other welfare issues.
According to the Army, its preliminary investigation indicated that Mark had engaged in conversations with soldiers that went beyond simply discussing their welfare.
The military accused him of attempting to create discontent among personnel and said some of the conversations raised concerns about possible subversion.
The Army therefore said the matter was being investigated in relation to its Social Media Policy and the alleged attempt to misinform the public.
Those allegations form part of the background to the criminal proceedings that followed.
Now, Mark wants the courts to decide
In the new lawsuit, Mark is asking the court to declare that the arrest, detention, investigation and treatment he says he experienced between April 28 and April 30 were unconstitutional and unlawful.
He is also seeking an injunction preventing the Army, its officers, commands, formations and sections from arresting, detaining, investigating or torturing him in connection with the matters raised in the suit.
For the alleged humiliation, harassment, intimidation, suffering and hardship arising from his detention and treatment, Mark is demanding N5 billion in exemplary damages.
He is seeking another N100 million over the alleged seizure and damage to his vehicle.
An additional N200 million in general damages is being sought over what he describes as violations of his fundamental rights and the seizure of the vehicle.
Together, those claims bring the total monetary demand to N5.3 billion.
Mark says the cases are separate
Mark has also made it clear that he does not regard the fundamental-rights action as an attempt to stop or interfere with the criminal proceedings against him.
He said he wants the court to independently examine the circumstances surrounding his arrest and detention.
The blogger returned to court on September 28, 2026, as the criminal proceedings continued.
He said that while the criminal case was progressing, he believed the alleged violations of his fundamental rights also required judicial determination.
Rather than continue arguing the matter publicly, Mark said he would allow the courts to examine the evidence and determine the issues.
His position is that the lawsuit is about accountability and the protection of constitutional rights.
The Army’s earlier position remains that Mark’s arrest arose from concerns over his interactions with soldiers, alleged breaches of military social-media rules and conduct the military said could undermine discipline and national security.
The fundamental-rights case will now put those competing accounts before the court.
And the central question will be whether the actions taken against Justice Crack were within the law — or whether, as he alleges, his constitutional rights were violated.
(Source: SaharaReporters)
