90-year-old Civil War Veteran Seeks Justice Over Alleged Illegal Detention, Dismissal

Over three decades after his alleged unlawful detention and dismissal from the Nigerian Army, Corporal Danladi Yelwa (rtd.), a Nigerian civil war veteran frm Dass local government area of Bauchi State, has renewed his demand for justice through a formal legal petition.

Yelwa accused the Nigerian Army of wrongful accusation, prolonged detention without trial and dismissal without due process, actions he said had left him impoverished and in poor health.

In a petition dated August 5, 2022, which his lawyer wrote to the Chief of Army Staff, Yelwa sought redress, reinstatement of his service records, and payment of all outstanding entitlements. However, more than three years after the Army acknowledged receipt of the petition, no official response has been communicated to the complainant.

The petition, signed by Oluwole Olukunle Moses, head of chamber and associate at Fir Adegbite Chambers, detailed a decades-long ordeal described as a grave institutional injustice.

According to the petition, Yelwa enlisted in the Nigerian Army on November 11, 1968, during the Nigerian Civil War, with service number 63/NA/182244.

He served with the 121 Battalion in Okolobia, Awka, under Captain Yusuf, assisted by Captain Audu Potiskum, and took part in military operations that led to the capture of Ogidi.

Following the war, his unit was redeployed to Suleja in 1973, later reorganised as 30 Heavy Artillery, and subsequently renamed 311 Artillery Regiment, Kontagora, Niger State.

The petition stated that Yelwa’s troubles began in May 1993, while he was on duty at the armoury in Kontagora. A pistol officially signed out by an acting commanding officer was reported missing. Yelwa alleged that the officer refused to accept responsibility and instead blamed him.

The petition added that the Police later recovered the pistol from a suspect arrested for armed robbery.

According to the suspect’s statement, the weapon was allegedly picked up at a nightclub in Kontagora after it fell from a drunken man attempting to sit on a car bonnet. The suspect reportedly copied the car’s plate number with the intention of returning the pistol, but was discouraged by friends.

The plate number, the petition claimed, was traced to Yelwa’s vehicle.

The petition further said that despite police findings that reportedly exonerated him, Yelwa was detained while the suspect was released. He spent six months in police custody before being taken to the Commissioner of Police in Niger State, who allegedly informed him that he had no case to answer and that his commanding officer was responsible for his detention.

Rather than being released, Yelwa was allegedly handed over to prison authorities on the directive of the Brigade Commandant, Gen. Obiako, and imprisoned for six years (1993-1999) without charge, trial, or conviction.

The petition further claimed that Yelwa regained his freedom in 1999 following an intervention by the late Mrs Stella Obasanjo, wife of then-President Olusegun Obasanjo, during a prison visit where she reportedly discovered that he was being held “Unlawfully.”

According to the petition regarding his return to the 311 Artillery Regiment, Yelwa was informed that he had already been dismissed from the Army: “No dismissal letter, court-martial record, or board of inquiry report was presented to him.”

The petition also said that subsequent investigations allegedly carried out by an Army-appointed Lieutenant reportedly revealed that no valid dismissal order, court-martial ruling, or service record file existed. A dismissal letter later produced was said to be unsigned, unwitnessed, and forged.

The investigating officer reportedly confronted Yelwa’s former commanding officer, by then a brigadier, who allegedly denied knowing him but later recognised him in person and declined to respond when faced with the allegations.

According to the petition, Yelwa was advised to sue the Nigerian Army but declined due to his financial condition, requesting only access to his service records and payment of his entitlements to enable him to process his pension and gratuity.

However, the petition alleged that a sergeant later demanded N150,000 from Yelwa to “Complete” the investigation, warning that nothing would be done if the money was not paid. Unable to raise the amount, Yelwa said that marked the end of his engagement with the Army.

The petition urged the Chief of Army Staff to order a thorough investigation, reinstate Yelwa’s service records, and ensure payment of all salaries, pensions, gratuities, and benefits accrued during his years of detention and imprisonment.

“All efforts by our client to obtain justice administratively have failed,” the petition stated, appealing to the Army leadership to uphold justice, integrity, and the sanctity of military service.

As of press time, no response had been received from the Nigerian Army or the Ministry of Defence, and efforts to obtain official comments were unsuccessful.