The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Christopher Musa, has called for stronger alignment between the military and the judiciary to safeguard discipline and fairness in the administration of military justice.

Mr Musa made the call in Abuja at the public presentation of the book “Annotation of Cases on Court Martial”, co-authored by M.U. Wambai and A. Omachi (Esq.), on Thursday in Abuja.

He stressed that discipline remained the backbone of military professionalism, warning that weakening court-martial standards or treating the military like any other civil institution could undermine national security.

“The military thrives on law and discipline. Without law, there is no discipline; without discipline, there is no military.

“Court-martials are not punitive but corrective. They preserve integrity and order within the Armed Forces,” he said.

The CDS lamented that certain recent verdicts from civil courts had diluted the spirit of military discipline, often on technical grounds.

He called for deeper collaboration between the judiciary and the armed forces to foster mutual understanding of military justice.

He revealed that the Defence Headquarters would engage with the courts through workshops and dialogue to ensure that both institutions appreciate the need for swift and fair military justice, particularly in an era of asymmetric warfare.

“When troops believe they can defy orders and get away with it, discipline collapses. Once that happens, we no longer have an army,” he warned.

Mr Musa commended the authors for their intellectual rigour, describing the book as a pioneering and practical guide that will enhance fairness, consistency, and professionalism in court-martial proceedings.

He also paid glowing tribute to former Chiefs of Army Staff, retired Tukur Buratai and retired Faruk Yahaya, for their mentorship and exemplary leadership, saying their discipline and professionalism shaped his command philosophy.

“Their commitment to service, integrity and excellence has deeply influenced my career. The pillars they built are what we continue to strengthen today,” he said.

In his remarks, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Olufemi Oluyede, represented by the director-general of the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre, Gbemiga Adesina, hailed the publication as the first of its kind in Nigeria’s military legal history.

Mr Oluyede said the book bridges the gap between civil and military law and would serve as a key reference for officers, lawyers, and scholars in understanding military justice under a democratic system.

“This work enhances civil–military relations and underscores the Nigerian Army’s commitment to professionalism, transparency and rule of law,” he said.

Mr Oluyede commended Mr Wambai’s contributions to military legal reforms and announced that copies of the book would be procured for all Army formations and units nationwide.

The event, attended by senior military officers, members of the judiciary, and academia, also featured remarks by former COAS Mr Buratai and legal luminaries.

They described the publication as a “timely and transformative contribution” to military jurisprudence in Nigeria.

(NAN)