Twenty years after his ordeal in the hands of the Nigerian Navy, friends, family and eminent Nigerians on Thursday gathered to celebrate a former Chief of Training and Operations at the Navy headquarters, Rear Admiral Francis Agbiti (retd.), in Abuja.
The event was not only the unveiling of a book titled, “AGBITI: Admiral, Patriot and Gentleman,” written by Fabian Owoicho; but was also an opportunity to reminisce on the travails of the retired Naval Officer while in service.
Rear Admiral Agbiti (retd.), a native of Adoka in Benue state, was in 2004 implicated in the missing popular vessel, known as M.T. African Pride, while he was the Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command, leading to his summary court martial and his eventual victory at the Supreme Court. He was CTOP- Chief of training and operations when the incident occurred.
Speaking at the event, foremost Constitutional Lawyer, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), said it took the grace of God and the strong judicial system in Nigeria at the time, for the retired Naval Officer to get justice at the Supreme Court.
“We are here today to celebrate the triumph of good over evil. They call it MT African Pride, that’s the name of the vessel. But the trial was an African shame. It was a shame to even what we call the trials in the military, before the military tribunal. We saw it. We witnessed this, witnessed everything with our naked eyes.
“Inhumanity of man to man, injustice melted by fellow officers, to their superior or subordinates officers to their superior, and also his own colleagues, his peers within the military. They just wanted him out.
“They were even threatening him, threatening him not to appeal to the Supreme Court, that they would get rid of him,” he said.
On his part, Agbiti recounted how he was framed by his subordinates and peers 20 years ago, during his military career and how Chief Olanipekun came through for him, thanking God for putting his enemies to shame.
“My suggestion is that they should strive to become good, so that justice will be for all without partiality and without consideration of the status of individuals. That’s what I would say,” he said.