The military high command has dismissed a Naval Rating, Seaman Abbas Haruna, for alleged “disobedience to particular orders, resistance to arrest and offences in relation to public and service property”.
The Director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Tukur Gusau, announced this while addressing reporters at the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) yesterday in Abuja.
The ex-seaman was dismissed after the Chief of Naval Staff ratified the General Court Martial instituted by the DHQ.
Gusau said: “The case involving Ex-Seaman Abbas Haruna M5759 started when he was found misbehaving during a parade. Specifically, the ex-rating was part of the parade during a coordinating conference of the Commanding Officer (CO) when he was addressing troops of Exercise Ayam Akpatuma preparing for an operation.
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“While the CO was addressing the troops, the ex-rating continually interrupted the address, which warranted the CO to direct him to report to the guard room. However, the rating refused to obey the order. Thus, the CO directed his arrest but the ex-rating resisted and expended 16 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition belonging to the Nigerian Navy with the aim of preventing other soldiers from taking him into custody.
“Consequently, an investigation was conducted and the ex-rating was recommended to be tried by a court martial. The ex-rating was eventually tried by a General Court Martial (GCM) from December 20, 2022 to February 7, 2023. Notably, the trial of Ex-Seaman Abbas Haruna M5759 by GCM was based on the authority that as serving personnel, he was subject to both military and civil laws.
“Ex-Seaman Abbas Haruna M5759 was arraigned before the GCM on a three-count charge of disobedience to particular orders, resistance to arrest and offences in relation to public and service property contrary to sections 56 (1), 86 (1) and 66 (c) of the Armed Forces Act (AFA) Act, CAP A20 Laws of the Federation (LFN) 2004, respectively.
“At the trial, the GCM deliberated on the testimonies of the prosecution and defence witnesses as well as the exhibits tendered by the prosecution surrounding the circumstances of the case. It is important to note that the ex-rating pleaded guilty to all the charges during the trial.
“The GCM, therefore, considered the nature of the offence committed by the ex-rating, his plea of guilty and plea in mitigation of punishment as well as the legal advice of the Judge Advocate in arriving at its verdict.
“Accordingly, at the conclusion of proceedings, the GCM found Ex-Seaman Abbas Haruna M5759 guilty on all counts. Based on this, he was sentenced to reduction in Rate from Seaman to Ordinary Seaman on Count One and dismissal with ignominy on Counts Two and Tree with effect from February 7, 2023.
“Thereafter, the ex-rating was placed on open arrest at the arrival hall in Mogadishu Cantonment in Abuja pending confirmation of the sentences by the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS). The Record of Proceedings (ROP) of the trial was forwarded to DHQ on June 27, 2023 and subsequently transmitted to Naval Headquarters (NHQ) on August 8, 2023. The sentences of the GCM were thereafter confirmed by the Chief of Naval Staff with effect from September 19, 2024.”
