BREAKING: Bail Application Hearing For Detained Whistleblower ‘Justice Crack’ To Hold Thursday Amid Torture Allegations

The bail application hearing for detained whistleblower, Justice Mark Chidiebere, popularly known as “Justice Crack,” has been fixed for Thursday amid growing outrage over allegations of torture and illegal detention by security operatives. Fiery human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, also confirmed the bail application hearing for Justice Crack, in a post shared on X on Tuesday. “The bail application hearing for @Justice_Crack will come up on Thursday!” he wrote. The planned court hearing comes days after disturbing reports emerged alleging that the activist was abducted and tortured by military personnel for criticising the Nigerian Army and speaking against alleged human rights abuses. SaharaReporters had reported that Justice Crack was allegedly chained to a tree under the scorching sun for over 72 hours by soldiers after he condemned the alleged extrajudicial killing of a Nigerian civilian and raised concerns over the poor welfare conditions of rank-and-file soldiers. In a viral video shared on X by user @drkenon2 and seen by SaharaReporters, a woman believed to be a relative of the detained activist tearfully narrated his ordeal. “Justice has been under the sun. He was tied to a tree and he was left outside for 72 hours and he’s been tortured by the military. What’s his crime? His crime is that he spoke for the oppressed Nigerians,” she said. The woman further alleged that the activist became a target after exposing what she described as the brutal killing of a civilian by soldiers and advocating for impoverished military personnel allegedly neglected by authorities. “When are we going to finally fight for our voice? We don’t have a voice anymore. Nothing is working well in the country and it can be anybody tomorrow,” she added. The allegations triggered widespread reactions on social media, with many Nigerians condemning the military and demanding the activist’s immediate release. Meanwhile, Sowore has also clashed with the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, over the continued detention of the whistleblower. During a phone conversation with the minister, who is reportedly outside the country, Sowore insisted that Fagbemi had a constitutional duty to act urgently in matters involving alleged violations of fundamental human rights. “But you know, as the Minister of Justice, it’s your duty to do justice from wherever you are,” Sowore said. “Whether you are in Paris, because you are the Minister of Justice of the Federation of Nigeria, you are the Attorney General of the Federation. “If it warrants that you take a decision that saves someone’s life, are you saying you will not take the decision because you are not in town?” However, Fagbemi reportedly argued that he could not intervene immediately because he had only heard one side of the matter. Sowore later rejected the idea of attending a scheduled meeting at the Ministry of Justice, insisting that his priority was mobilising support for the detained activist rather than engaging in formalities. “I’m not coming because I don’t need to come and drink tea in the Ministry of Justice,” Sowore said. Earlier, Sowore described Justice Crack’s detention as a “criminal kidnapping” allegedly carried out by the Nigerian Army and the Department of State Services (DSS). According to him, the activist was severely tortured in military custody before being transferred to the DSS after public pressure mounted over his disappearance.