By Baba Yusuf Abuja–
A civil society group, Citizens Watch Nigeria (CWN), berated the Senate over what it referred to as its charge on the Nigerian Army on the proscription of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as well as the dismissed officer, Lt.-Col. Abdulfatai Mohammed.
In a press release by the group’s Executive Secretary, Omoba Kenneth Aigbegbele, it noted that “for the records, the laws governing the military worldwide are quite different from that of civil laws.
” It read in part: “When a personnel takes an oath of office to serve and protect the territorial integrity of the nation, he or she instantly becomes subject to military laws when the need arises and if peradventure he or she is punished or courtmarshalled under the law and approved by the highest military authority, then nothing can be done whatsoever to change that decision or judgement meted to the offi cer in question.
“Recently, Nigerians have been inundated with condemnations of the Senate leadership over actions taken by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, few weeks back to safeguard and protect the territorial integrity of the nation with the unleashing of exercise Operation Python Dance 2 in the South-east.
Even when many opinions from across the country favoured the action of the Nigerian army, the Senate leadership took a swipe at them not minding and taking into consideration the police men who lost their lives, the wanton destructions of property and threat to national security.
” Continuing, it read: “Today, Nigeria is better by the patriotic decision of the army leadership, the tension generated across the country has reduced signifi cantly, giving Nigerians a sign of relief and security.
“For an offi cer of that rank to have taken the COAS to an industrial court in military circle is an abomination and absolutely unacceptable anywhere in the world.
” Th e group noted that the Senate committee had no powers or right under the law to summon the COAS under a matter already in court “and as if that is not enough, a military aff air that has been dispensed and decision taken.
” “Howbeit, the said offi cer, Lt. Col.
Abdulfatai Mohammed, petitioned the Senate on malicious and compulsory retirement by the army, while it had already on August 12, 2016, fi led a suit in the National Industrial Court (NIC) against the COAS and the Nigerian Army, seeking reinstatement which invariably means that the issue now handled by the Senate is already in court and cannot be entertained.
