Reinstate 38 Nigerian Army Generals others retired ‘prematurely’ – Falana tells President Tinubu

Reinstate 38 Nigerian Army Generals others retired ‘prematurely’ – Falana tells President Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has been urged by Femi Falana, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), to step in and help 38 Nigerian Army officers who were prematurely retired eight years ago.

Falana, speaking on behalf of the officers, emphasized that the previous government, led by President Muhammadu Buhari, had disregarded resolutions from the National Assembly and a National Industrial Court that demanded their reinstatement.

In an interview with journalists in Lagos on Wednesday, Falana highlighted the injustice and lack of due process surrounding the officers’ forced retirement.

He argued that the officers were not afforded a fair hearing and maintained that they had not committed any offenses warranting their dismissal.

The 38 officers, who were compulsorily retired on June 9, 2016, included nine major generals, 11 brigadier generals, seven colonels, and 11 lieutenant colonels.

The military authorities at the time claimed the retirements were due to allegations of partisanship during the 2015 general election, involvement in arms procurement fraud, and actions that jeopardized national security.

Falana, however, insisted that these allegations were baseless and called for the officers’ reinstatement, noting that the due process was not followed in their cases.

He appealed to President Tinubu to take judicial notice of the matter and restore justice by reversing the premature retirements.

Falana said, “As the Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, I wish to inform President Tinubu that what happened to the 38 Army officers under the previous administration is incredible and unfortunate. I’m also using this medium to inform you that the infamous action on the 38 officers is patently illegal and unjustified.

“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.

“Mr President, there is a need for you to intervene now because if you fail to intervene, the premature retirement of these 38 officers will send a wrong signal to serving military officers that it does not pay to offer selfless service to Nigeria.

“We have also written a detailed letter to the President through the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), seeking for justice and their reinstatement in line with the National Industrial Court and the National Assembly resolutions. We sincerely believe and are confident that AGF Fagbemi will do the needful and advise the President accordingly.”