By SUMAILA OGBAJE

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) is to harmonise court martial procedures across the services in line with the nation?s justice system.

The Chief Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, said this on Monday, at the opening of conference on Rules of Procedure, substance abuse and sexual orientation in the Armed Forces of Nigeria in Abuja.

Musa, represented by the Chief of Defence Administration Rear Adm. Monday Unurhere, said that Nigeria?s contemporary operating environment was confrnted with multiple administrative challenges with telling consequences for military effectiveness.

According to him, given that discipline is the bedrock of the military, the DHQ responses to these challenges especially in relation to how we regulate the conduct of personnel requires added impetus.

?Accordingly, the DHQ jumped at this opportunity to develop a comprehensive approach to harmonizing the Rules of Procedure for court martial, addressing issues of substance abuse and homosexuality within the Services.

?Notably, differences in extant Rules of Procedure for administration of justice in the Armed Forces across the Services create inconsistencies in the administration of military justice.

?These inconsistencies are further deepened by fragmentation and obsolescence of aspects of the Rules.

?Consequently, it has become expedient to review the extant Rule of Procedure with a view to eliminating conflicts by harmonising the application of justice and enforcement of discipline in the Armed Forces of Nigeria,? he said.

Musa said the military was not spared from growing global debates on substance abuse and homosexuality, adding that the twin issues had massive negative effects on morale and operational effectiveness.

He expressed confidence that the conference would foster engaging dialogues, vibrant exchange of ideas towards generating bespoke and enduring solutions that would strengthen justice and discipline within the military.

The Director of Legal Services (Army), Lt.-Col. SO Okebukola in his presentation, said the Nigerian army relied on imported Royal British Army rules to court martial personnel.

Okebukola, represented by the Chief of Staff, Legal Services, Lt.-Col. Chukwudi Okonkwo, said that some obsolete materials imported were not applicable to the Nigerian criminal justice system.

He recommended that all references to obsolete foreign materials not suitable to the Nigerian criminal justice system should be expunged and replaced with pertinent policies relevant to Nigerian military criminal justice system.

?Plea bargaining procedure should be incorporated into the Rules of Procedure,? he said. (NAN)

Update news