The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, has said the military justice system is key to protecting the rights of personnel engaged in high-risk operations, while upholding discipline and professionalism.
Musa made this remark at the public presentation of a book titled Justice in the Nigerian Armed Forces: Law and Practice, authored by retired Colonel Ukpe Ukpe, on Wednesday in Abuja.
According to him, justice in the armed forces is not only about enforcing discipline but also about ensuring fairness and accountability in the treatment of troops during missions.
“In every high-risk operation, whether counter-terrorism, peacekeeping, or internal security, our troops operate under enormous pressure. Yet, justice guarantees that discipline is exercised within the law. It reassures our men and women in uniform that while they defend the nation, their rights are also protected,” he said.
The CDS described Ukpe’s work as a “timely contribution that bridges theory and practice,” noting that it would guide commanders, military lawyers, and personnel in applying justice correctly. He added that the book was a reminder that a strong military rests not only on firepower but also on fairness and integrity.
Earlier, the author said the book stemmed from his decades of involvement in administering military justice across the Nigerian Army, Navy, and Air Force.
Ukpe explained that the publication sought to address gaps in the system and called for urgent reforms to ensure fairness, uniformity, and accountability.
According to him, there is no better time for reform of the military justice system than under the leadership of the present CDS and Service Chiefs.
He noted that the book would serve as a reference for military lawyers, commanders, civilian lawyers handling court-martial cases, appellate judges, and students in defence institutions.
Ukpe also warned against reliance on outdated frameworks such as the Manual of Military Law 1972, stressing that Nigeria required a harmonised and modern rulebook similar to the British Manual of Court Martial, last updated in 2024.
“Our fragmented approach undermines fairness, uniformity and certainty. I strongly recommend a comprehensive review and harmonisation of our Rules of Procedure in line with the Harmonised Armed Forces Act 2024 and the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service recently assented to by the President,” he said.
He further urged military legal officers to regard participation in court-martials as a national duty, insisting that performance reports should reflect such contributions in considerations for promotions and appointments.
“This book is my modest contribution to an institution I proudly served for decades. My hope is that it will inspire reform, strengthen justice, and uphold fairness in the Nigerian Armed Forces,” he said.
(NAN)