By SUMAILA OGBAJE

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen. Christopher Musa, says the essence of Court Martial is not punitive but corrective, aimed at strengthening discipline, professionalism and accountability within the Armed Forces.

Musa stated this in Abuja on Thursday, at the public presentation of the book “Annotation of Cases on Court Martial,” co-authored by Maj.-Gen. Mahmood Wambai and Ali Omachi, Esq.

He said the military justice system was designed to uphold fairness while maintaining the discipline required for effective national defence.

He stressed that the court martial process remained an indispensable instrument for enforcing service laws.

“Court martial is not meant to punish but to correct and preserve discipline in the soul of the armed forces.

“Its objective is to ensure fairness and accountability while keeping our forces combat-ready and professionally responsible,” he said.

Musa commended the authors for producing a scholarly reference that deepened understanding of military law and supported ongoing reforms in the armed forces’ justice administration.

Also speaking, former Chief of Army Staff, retired Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, described the book as a milestone in Nigeria’s evolving military jurisprudence, bridging the gap between discipline, law, and democratic accountability.

He said the work reflected the authors’ deep commitment to justice and professionalism, noting that a credible military justice system remained central to both operational efficiency and public confidence.

“The court martial system remains the bedrock of military discipline and professionalism.

“A fair and transparent process enforces the armed forces act and reinforces public trust that the military operates under the rule of law,” he said.

The former Nigerian Ambassador to Benin Republic, cited landmark judgments such as Eweka v. Nigerian Army and Gideon Uweri v. Nigerian Army as precedents that continued to shape Nigeria’s military legal landscape.

Speaking on the book, the author, Maj.-Gen. Wambai said the book was motivated by a desire to address misconceptions and technical errors that often led to appellate courts overturning court martial decisions.

He emphasised that a well-understood court martial process safeguarded discipline and protected the integrity of the armed forces.

“Many of such reversals stem from limited understanding of military law. Our aim is to provide clarity and ensure both military lawyers and appellate judges are properly guided,” he said.

The co-author, Ali Omachi, a private legal practitioner, said the book offered detailed commentary on appeal court decisions involving court martial cases, highlighting gaps that had weakened military trials over time.

Omachi said the book provided a comprehensive resource for judges, military legal officers, and scholars committed to advancing justice and discipline in the armed forces.

“The essence of this work is to bridge the gap between the theory and practice of court martial law. We analysed several judgments and proposed reforms that can make the system more credible and efficient,” Omachi said. (NAN)