O
Oladipo Abiola
Guest
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), has confirmed the dismissal of ex-Seaman Abbas Haruna of the Nigerian Navy.
The Acting Director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Tukur Gusau, who confirmed the development during a press conference on Wednesday, said Haruna was dismissed after he was found guilty by a military court martial in accordance with the provisions of the Armed Forces Act.
He also dismissed reports of unlawful detention without trial for six years, as alleged by his wife, while featuring on Brekete Family, a programme on Human Rights Radio.
Gusau said the ex-Seaman, with service number N5759, last served under Exercise AYAM AKPATUMA, which was a joint operation under DHQ.
On the allegations against the dismissed seaman, Gusau disclosed that Haruna was found misbehaving during a parade at a coordinating conference of the Commanding Officer (CO), who was addressing troops preparing for the operation.
He noted that while the CO was addressing the troops, the ex-naval rating continually interrupted the address, which warranted the officer to direct him to report to the guard room.
Gusau said that the ex-seaman refused to obey the order which made the commander order his arrest, adding that Haruna resisted and expended 16 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition belonging to the Nigerian Navy to prevent other soldiers from taking him into custody.
The DHQ spokesperson said Haruna pleaded guilty during his trial before a court martial, adding that he was tried from Dec. 20, 2022, to Feb. 7, 2023.
Gusau said Abbas faced three charges bothering on disobedience to particular orders, resistance to arrest, and offenses relating to public service property and was dismissed for violating sections of the Armed Forces Act.
“Notably, the trial of Ex Seaman Abbas Haruna N5759 by GCM was based on the authority that as serving personnel, he was subject to both military and civil laws.
“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 a Reduction in Rate from Seaman to Ordinary Seaman on Count One and Dismissal with Ignominy on Counts 2 and 3 with effect from 7 February 2023.
“Thereafter, the ex-rating was placed on open arrest at the arrival hall in Mogadishu Cantonment, 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 Aug. 8, 2023.
“The sentences of the GCM were thereafter confirmed by the CNS with effect from 19 September 2024,” Gusau said.
The DHQ confirmed that the ex-seaman was duly represented by his lawyer, Chukwu Augustine, throughout the trial.
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