Senior Advocate of Nigeria and human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has called on President Bola Tinubu to reinstate 38 Nigerian Army officers who were prematurely retired in 2016.
Speaking during an interview with journalists in Lagos on Wednesday, Falana emphasized that the affected officers were denied fair hearing and due process, making their forced retirement unjust. He urged the President to take judicial notice of the unresolved issue, which the previous administration of President Muhammadu Buhari failed to address despite court orders and resolutions from the National Assembly.
The retired officers include nine major generals, 11 brigadier generals, seven colonels, and 11 lieutenant colonels. They were dismissed on June 9, 2016, by the Nigerian Army over alleged offenses such as partisanship during the 2015 general election, involvement in arms procurement fraud, and jeopardizing national security.
Falana argued that the allegations were baseless and that the officers committed no wrongdoing. He noted that both the National Industrial Court and the National Assembly had directed their reinstatement, but the military authorities disregarded these directives.
“As the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, I urge President Tinubu to intervene and rectify this injustice. Allowing this situation to persist will send a dangerous message to serving military personnel about the value of selfless service to Nigeria,” Falana stated.
The senior advocate also revealed that a formal letter has been sent to the President through the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN). Falana expressed confidence that the Attorney-General would take appropriate steps to ensure the officers’ reinstatement.
“This is an opportunity for the current administration to demonstrate its commitment to justice, fairness, and the rule of law,” Falana added.
