Nigeria’s top defence chief has called for stronger safeguards within the armed forces’ justice system, stressing that discipline must go hand in hand with fairness for personnel on dangerous missions.
General Christopher Musa, Chief of Defence Staff, said at a book launch in Abuja on Wednesday that military justice was “central to protecting rights” and reassuring soldiers that they would be treated lawfully while serving in counter-terrorism, peacekeeping and internal security operations.
The book, Justice in the Nigerian Armed Forces: Law and Practice, by retired Colonel Ukpe Ukpe, argues for urgent reform. Ukpe warned that reliance on outdated legal manuals undermines fairness and uniformity, urging Nigeria to adopt a modern harmonised framework similar to Britain’s updated Manual of Court Martial.
He also proposed that military lawyers’ participation in courts-martial be recognised in career advancement to strengthen accountability.
Both men agreed that the credibility of Nigeria’s military depends not only on weapons and operations but also on trust in its justice system.
