Femi Falana, a renowned human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, has called on President Bola Tinubu to reinstate 20 generals and 18 other senior officers who were forced into premature retirement from the Nigerian Army eight years ago, SAVANNAH NEWSNOW REPORTS.
Femi Falana, counsel to the affected officers, told journalists in Lagos on Wednesday that their removal disregarded due process, and urged the president to comply with the National Industrial Court’s ruling and the National Assembly’s resolutions, which had previously ordered the officers’ reinstatement.
“The Nigerian Army cannot and should not be allowed to treat the valid and subsisting order of the National Industrial Court and the National Assembly resolution on the 38 officers with levity,” Falana said.
The senior advocate claimed that the officers, who were retired on June 9, 2016, were unfairly denied a hearing.
The group consisted of nine major generals, 11 brigadier generals, seven colonels, and 11 lieutenant colonels.
Falana argued that the military’s allegations of misconduct, including partisanship during the 2015 general election, arms procurement fraud, and compromising national security, were baseless.
He stated that the action taken against the 38 officers was patently illegal and unjustified.
Falana urged Tinubu, as Commander-in-Chief, to address the injustice, warning that failure to intervene would send a negative signal to serving military officers that selfless service to Nigeria is not valued.
He revealed that a formal letter had been sent to the president, through the Attorney-General, seeking justice for the affected officers and urging compliance with the court ruling and legislative resolutions.
“We sincerely believe and are confident that AGF Fagbemi will do the needful and advise the President accordingly,” Falana concluded.
