Skip to main content
  • English
  • العربية
  •  
  •  
Home Al Jazeera Media Network

A truly global network

play

Live

Main navigation

  • Who We Are
    • Our Story
    • Vision
    • Mission
    • Values
    • Our Journey
    • Virtual Tour
    • Code of Ethics
    • Editorial Standards
    • Code of Conduct
  • Leadership
  • Our Network
  • Faces
    • Arabic
    • English
    • Mubasher
    • Balkans
  • Awards
  • Events
  • Press Releases
  • More
    • Publications
    • Videos
    • FAQ
    • Press Kit
    • Our Martyrs
play

Live

Court action taken to free Al Jazeera’s Nigerian journalists

Published on: 02 Apr 2015
  • Share
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • WhatsApp

Legal action has been taken to declare the Nigerian military’s detention of two Al Jazeera journalists as “illegal and unconstitutional”.

The Motion on Notice filed today in Abuja’s high court seeks the enforcement of Ahmed Idris and Ali Mustaphas’ “fundamental rights to personal liberty and human dignity” under the Nigerian constitution.

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

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 said it was extremely concerned about the situation and was seeking guarantees regarding the safety and wellbeing of their journalists.

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

Ahmed Idris is an experienced journalist who has over thirty years of broadcasting experience. Ahmed started working for the Adamawa Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) in 1983. In 2006 Ahmed joined the BBC in Abuja and in 2007 until 2010 Ahmed was made the Bureau Editor. Since 2010 Ahmed 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.

Ali 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.

PRESS RELEASES

Peabody awards two exclusive Al Jazeera documentaries on Gaza war carnage
Al Jazeera English wins two Overseas Press Club awards
Al Jazeera English’s Fault Lines Investigates Israeli Military Shootings of Children in Gaza
Al Jazeera strongly condemns the assassination of its correspondent in Gaza Hossam Shabat
Al Jazeera Arabic’s channel on YouTube surpasses 20 million subscribers
Al Jazeera English's Gaza investigative film by Fault Lines receives prestigious RTS Award
Former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe on recent election loss, Easter bombing investigations, and prosecution of the Rajapaksa family
Al Jazeera Documentary Industry Days opens submissions for 4th edition
Al Jazeera English ‘Head to Head’ interview with Kimani Ichung’wah, the Majority leader of the Kenyan National Assembly
Al Jazeera Media Institute Partners with the University of Aberdeen on a Master's Programme
‘The Palestine Laboratory’ exposes Israel’s export of unique systems of control and surveillance technology around the world
Al Jazeera condemns in the strongest terms the arrest of Mohamad Atrash by the Palestinian Authority and calls for his immediate release
  • Load More

About

  • About Us
  • Code of Ethics
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Cookie preferences
  • Work for us

Connect

  • Contact Us
  • Advertise with us
  • Apps
  • Channel Finder
  • TV Schedule
  • Podcasts
  • Submit a Tip

Our Channels

  • Al Jazeera Arabic
  • Al Jazeera English
  • Al Jazeera Investigative Unit
  • Al Jazeera Mubasher
  • Al Jazeera Documentary
  • Al Jazeera Balkans
  • AJ +

Our Network

  • Al Jazeera Center for Studies
  • Al Jazeera Media Institute
  • Learn Arabic
  • Al Jazeera Center for Public Liberties & Human Rights
  • Al Jazeera Forum
  • Al Jazeera Hotel Partners
 

© 2025 Al Jazeera Media Network.