By Bavoriat Clara
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa, has described a newly launched book on military law as a timely and valuable contribution to ongoing reforms in the Nigerian Armed Forces.
The book, Justice in the Nigerian Armed Forces: Law and Practice, authored by retired Colonel Ukpe Ukpe Sam, was unveiled at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja before an audience that included Service Chiefs, senior officers, academics, and legal practitioners.
In his remarks, General Musa said the publication reflects the realities of military operations where personnel must balance human rights obligations with operational demands.
He emphasized that while discipline remains the backbone of the Armed Forces, justice must also serve as a safeguard for troops.
“It is always important that we strike a balance between the military and the law. Our troops operate in environments where human rights concerns often intersect with their duties. This book provides insight into how justice can be dispensed fairly while protecting soldiers who risk their lives daily,” the CDS stated.
The author, retired Colonel Sam, explained that the work was inspired by his decades of experience in court-martial proceedings. He pointed out that the Armed Forces still depend on outdated manuals dating back to 1972, which are no longer suitable for modern challenges.
He therefore called for the harmonization of court-martial rules across the Army, Navy, and Air Force in line with the Harmonized Armed Forces Act 2024.
“This book is my modest contribution to the Nigerian military, an institution to which I devoted my entire career. If reforms are carried out under the current leadership, history will remember this era as a turning point in our military justice system,” Sam said.
Reviewing the book, Professor Adamu Ibrahim of the Faculty of Law, Adamawa State University, commended it as a landmark addition to military jurisprudence.
He noted that the 18-chapter volume explores the evolution of military law, summary trials, court-martial processes, post-trial reviews, and the challenges faced by military justice officials.
He also stressed that the work would not only benefit the Armed Forces but also judges, legal scholars, researchers, and students, as it helps to dispel misconceptions about the fairness of court-martial trials.
The event ended with calls for wider enlightenment and the distribution of the book to military libraries, training institutions, and research centers as a vital resource for strengthening Nigeria’s military justice system.
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