The Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Christopher Gwabin Musa has directed an immediate probe of the alleged 6-year incarceration of a naval personnel, Seaman Abbas Haruna by his superior officer.
The Acting Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.
According to the statement, the CDS assured the public of the Armed Forces commitment to uphold justice, fairness and rule of law.
The defence spokesperson explained that the military court-martial process, though meticulous, ensured fairness, equal opportunity, and justice in accordance with established military procedures and the law.
He said: “The outcome of the investigation will be made public in due course.
“The DHQ urges the general public to exercise caution and refrain from spreading unsubstantiated information while the investigation is ongoing.
“We assure Nigerians that the armed forces will ensure a speedy and transparent investigation.”
The woman alleged that after her husband’s superior officer had incarcerated him for 6 years, both her family and the husband’s withdrew support for her.
The woman’s story raised deep concern for her among the public, especially the North, as citizens condemned the action, calling for immediate investigation and serving of justice.
Similarly, the Northern Elders Forum, NEF, expressed deep concern over the incident, describing it as unjust treatment of the naval personnel, alleging that Seaman Haruna has become a victim of misconduct in the armed forces.
The NEF Director of Publicity and Advocacy, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman stated this in a statement on Sunday, adding that the forum is demanding for swift justice for Haruna and his family.
The statement partly reads: “We demand that the military hierarchy take immediate steps to review this case and provide the necessary support for Seaman Abbas’s rehabilitation. It is critical that the injustices he has faced be addressed with urgency to restore his dignity and that of his family.”
“As narrated by Mrs Husaina Abbas during her appearance on the Brekete Family TV station in the Federal Capital, Abuja, the circumstances surrounding the incarceration of Seaman Abbas raise grave alarms about the accountability and ethical standards within the military hierarchy.”
“Mrs Abbas said her husband has been subjected to a punitive six-year imprisonment by his superior, Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad S. Adamu, the commander of his battalion.”
“The reported basis for this draconian punishment is not rooted in any criminality nor misconduct that would warrant such a severe sentence, rather, it stems from Seaman Abbas’s commendable act of gathering soldiers under his command for prayer-a reflection of his commitment to the moral and spiritual well-being of his troops.”
