Falana seeks reinstatement of 38 ‘prematurely’ retired army officers

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to reinstate the 38 army officers who were prematurely retired eight years ago by the former administration.

Addressing newsmen during the week, Falana notified Tinubu that an order of the National Industrial Court directing their reinstatement was ignored by the then military administration under former President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Senior Advocate also stated that the officers, who were forcefully retired on June 9, 2016, have suffered due to lack of fair hearing as they seek their reinstatement on the grounds that they did not commit any offence.

He lamented that the unjust retirement affected nine major-generals, 11 brigadier-generals, seven colonels, and 11 lieutenant colonels.

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 am also using this medium to inform you that the infamous action 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 with levity.

“Mr. President, there is the need for you to intervene because if you fail to do so, the premature retirement of these 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, AGF, and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), seeking justice and their reinstatement in line with the National Industrial Court and the National Assembly’s resolutions. We sincerely believe and are confident that AGF Fagbemi will do the needful and advise the president accordingly.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the National Industrial Court had directed the reinstatement of the affected officers who had gone to court to challenge the act of injustice.

“But the then military authorities and the present one have continued to defy the court’s order. Several of the officers who felt that the army breached its extant rules and regulations in carrying out the retirement also took their complaints to the court to seek redress and clear their names, and the court ruled in their favour.

“The development was after their appeal to former President Buhari, seeking his intervention and reinstatement, but there was no response from the presidency or the Nigerian Army up until now.”