Social media activist Mark Justice, popularly known as Justice Crack, has denied allegations by the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, that he instructed Nigerian soldiers to remove meat from their meals to make their food appear inadequate in a viral video.
Justice Crack’s response followed comments made by the minister during an interview on News Central, where he dismissed claims of poor feeding in the military and accused the activist of staging the video.
“The soldiers’ food was okay. There was meat, there was all these things. He told them to put all these things out and make it look as if those things were not there,” the minister said.
Reacting in a statement on Thursday, Justice Crack described the allegation as false and defamatory, insisting he had no authority to direct serving military personnel.
“The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), lied during an interview on News Central that I, JusticeCrack, instructed military officers to remove meat and other items from their meals to make the food appear inadequate,” he said.
“I never told any military officer to remove meat or anything else from their food. What authority do I have to give such an instruction? I am not a General, a Commander, or a Colonel. I have no military background whatsoever. Why would I instruct serving military personnel to do such a thing?”
The activist maintained that he never approached military personnel, adding that some officers had instead contacted him to complain about their welfare.
“It is also important for the public to know that I never reached out to military officers. Rather, some of them reached out to me to express concerns about their welfare.
“In good faith, I made a video to raise awareness so that the military authorities could pay attention to the welfare of the officers and men serving our country. My intention was simply to advocate for better working conditions, improved welfare, and better living conditions for the brave men and women who defend Nigeria,” he stated.
Justice Crack said the minister’s comments had the potential to damage his reputation.
“It is deeply painful and, in my view, defamatory to hear the Honourable Minister of Defence make such a statement about me on national television without presenting any evidence.
“Such a statement has the potential to damage my reputation and misrepresent my intentions before the Nigerian public.”
He reiterated that his advocacy had always focused on accountability and improved welfare for security personnel.
“I therefore wish to make it abundantly clear that I, Mark Chidiebere Justice, popularly known as JusticeCrack, never instructed any military officer to remove meat or any other item from their food.
“My advocacy has always been about accountability, better welfare for our security personnel, and good governance. This statement is made solely to correct the record and inform the Nigerian public of the true position.”
It was reported in May that Justice Crack was remanded in prison custody after being arraigned over a viral video allegedly criticising the Nigerian Army’s feeding arrangements.
The activist was charged with alleged cyber-related offences.
One of the charges accused him of circulating false information through his social media handle, @JusticeCrack, regarding the alleged inadequate feeding of Nigerian Army personnel.
The charge reads in part, “That you, CHIDIEBERE JUSTICE MARK… did circulate information to the public through your social media handle @JusticeCrack regarding alleged inadequate feeding of Nigerian Army personnel, which you know the said information to be false but posted it for the purpose of causing annoyance, ill will, and hatred… contrary to and punishable under Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended.”
The PUNCH