The family of a 37-year-old soldier, Corporal Alhaji Asuma Zaid of the Recce Regiment, is accusing the military of unlawfully detaining their son.

The family says military authorities have been keeping the officer without charge since 31st May, against both the Constitution and the army's own regulations.

His father, Alhaji Issa Mumuni, 72, an ex-service man himself, says he's traumatized particularly because no formal charges have been preferred against his son whilst the military command has refused to grant anybody access to him for almost two months now.

Speaking through one of his sons, John Adams, Alhaji Mumuni claimed BNI officials who interrogated his son had cleared him of any wrongdoing but the military authorities were refusing to grant him bail whilst his health deteriorated.

He was therefore calling on the government to intervene because he was convinced the military’s action was a breach of his son's human rights.

John Adams told Joy News’ Elvis Kwashie that since his brother’s arrest on May 31st and his transfer later to the BNI where he was interrogated, he was yet to be told the reason why he had been incarcerated.

John said his brother, during his interrogation by a panel of military and BNI officials at the BNI Headquarters, was asked how he came by the telephone numbers of key political figures such as ex-President Rawlings and Prof. Evans Atta-Mills.

“Questions like between Kufuor and Rawlings if the two of them were in a pit which of them would you rescue and we find some of these questions very unprofessional.”

“As I speak today he is not in the right frame of mind because having been there since the 31st May, psychologically he is so much traumatized…”

“The wife on two three occasions has gone to the Commanding Officer, they’ve not told her anything neither will they allow her and the children to go and visit their father and husband,” he said.

The military command however, says Corporal Alhaji Asuma Zaid is being investigated for vacating his post without authorization.


The Director of Public Relations, Col. E.W.B. Nibo rejected claims that the soldier’s human rights are being abused.


He said what he knew of the case was that Corporal Alhaji Asuma Zaid had been absent from duty for a period of 142 days and for military regulations, even one hour or three hours absence without leave is still a chargeable offence.

Col. Nibo said investigations suggested that Corporal Zaid was pursuing an academic course without authorization and was put under closed arrest when it was detected.

The Public Relations Director said Corporal Zaid could be under arrest as long as it takes to complete investigations.

“The information I have is that the soldier is aware of his offence, he has been told. He was put before a Regimental enquiry and he was going to be tried when he brought up a case and said that the school he is attending, it was an officer who authorised him to attend the school and it is only the Chief of Defence Staff that can release anybody to attend university or any other school.”


Col. Nibo also denied that the arrested officer was not well, and said his information was that he was in good health.