THE Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, and the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Chris Musa, have ordered an immediate probe of allegations that a Naval rating, Seaman Abbas Haruna, has been in detention for nearly six years.
Haruna’s wife had during a radio programme in Abuja, accused the military authorities of unjustly detaining her husband for almost six years.
In his reaction to the allegations, Matawelle, in a statement on Monday, September 16, by his Personal Assistant on Media, Ahmad Dan-Wudil, said no officer should be subjected to undue hardship or wrongful treatment.
According to the statement: “Our Armed Forces are built on the pillars of honour, discipline and justice. No officer serving this great nation should be subjected to undue hardship or wrongful treatment.
“The case of Seaman Abbas will be thoroughly investigated and the truth will be uncovered.
“I assure the public that this matter will be handled with the utmost seriousness and justice will prevail. We remain committed to upholding the integrity of our military and the rights of every individual under the law.”
The minister, while noting that all military personnel, regardless of rank, deserve to be treated fairly and with respect, stressed that Haruna’s rights would be protected throughout the investigation and any breach of protocol would be addressed promptly and decisively, adding: “The ministry remains fully committed to upholding the rule of law, ensuring that no officer or civilian is subjected to unfair treatment or harassment.”
In the same vein, the Defence Headquarters, in a statement by the Director of Defence Information, Brig-Gen Tukur Gusau, said the military was committed to upholding fairness and justice in the country’s armed forces, assuring that the outcome of the investigation ordered by the CDS would be made public.
“The DHQ wishes to assure the public that the Armed Forces of Nigeria remains committed to upholding justice, fairness and the rule of law.
“The military court-martial process, though meticulous, ensures fairness, equal opportunity and justice, in accordance with established military procedures and the law.
“In response to this allegation, the CDS has directed an immediate investigation into the matter. The outcome of the investigation will be made public in due course,” Gusau stated.
