Al Jazeera in court for detained journalists

Doha-headquartered medium, Al Jazeera, has instituted legal action to nullify the detention of two of its Nigerian journalists by the Nigerian military as “illegal and unconstitutional.”

On March 25, the Nigerian military said it “restrained” Ahmed Idris and Mustafa Andy (pictured), reporters for Aljazeera Television, the previous day “for engaging in activities aimed at interfering with security operations in the northeast”.

However, the following day, the medium said both men were not “restrained” but actually “detained” in their hotel room after they were returning from covering a story on the Nigerian forces fighting Boko Haram in Borno State.

“After military officials questioned the men in their hotel rooms, their camera equipment was confiscated. Both men have been kept in their hotel rooms and are officially detained until further notice,” it said.

It also maintained that contrary to the military’s claims, both men were officially accredited by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja with the clearance to report from anywhere in Nigeria during the entire election period.

On Friday, Al Jazeera released a statement to say it had filed a Motion on Notice at an Abuja high court to enforce the “fundamental rights to personal liberty and human dignity” of both men, under the Nigerian constitution.

It also seeks a court order for their immediate release from the “illegal military custody” that began on 24 March 2015.

“The move comes as concern for the pair grew after they were denied access to their phones and contact with the outside world. Al Jazeera is extremely concerned about the situation and is seeking guarantees regarding the safety and wellbeing of their journalists,” Kevin Kriedemann and Joy Sapieka, Africa publicists for Al Jazeera media network, said in a statement

“It is hoped that the legal action will help bring an end to the impasse where Idris and Mustafa have been held by military forces in Maiduguri for no apparent reason for the last 10 days.”

Salah Negm, director of news for Al Jazeera English, said: “We want the military to bring this situation to a close, and call on all parties involved in this capture of our journalists to end this now.

“Nobody appears to be taking responsibility for this grave action and we hope this legal action will help to cut through the haze.”

The detention has been condemned by the Committee to Protect Journalists, the National Press Club, and the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, a coalition of organisations working in support of credible and transparent elections.

Al Jazeera English is one of the most-watched news channels in Nigeria, with millions of viewers every day.

Idris is an experienced journalist who has over 30 years of broadcasting experience. He started working for the Adamawa Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) in 1983. In 2006, he joined the BBC in Abuja and in 2007 until 2010, he was the bureau editor. Since 2010, Idris has served as a producer/reporter for Al Jazeera. In 2014, he was the first international journalist to reach Chibok and interview families affected by the mass kidnap of schoolgirls by Boko Haram.

Mustafa has been a cameraman with Al Jazeera since 2011. He graduated from the national film institute, Jos, Plateau state, in 2000 as an independent film maker, majoring in scripting producing and directing.