The military justice system is central to protecting the rights of personnel engaged in high-risk operations while sustaining discipline and professionalism.

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Christopher Musa, said this at the public presentation of a book titled “Justice in the Nigerian Armed Forces: Law and Practice,” authored by Colonel Ukpe Ukpe (retd), on Wednesday in Abuja.

According to him, justice in the armed forces is not only about enforcing discipline but also about ensuring fairness and accountability in the treatment of troops during missions.

“In every high-risk operation, whether counter-terrorism, peacekeeping, or internal security, our troops operate under enormous pressure. Yet, justice guarantees that discipline is exercised within the law. It reassures our men and women in uniform that while they defend the nation, their rights are also protected,” he said.

The CDS described Mr Ukpe’s book as a “timely contribution that bridges theory and practice”, adding that it would guide commanders, military lawyers and personnel in applying justice correctly.

According to him, the book is a beacon of knowledge and a reminder that a strong military is built not only on firepower but also on fairness and integrity.

Earlier in his remarks, the author, retired Col. Ukpe Ukpe, said the book was borne out of his decades of active involvement in the administration of military justice across the Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force.

Mr Ukpe said the work sought to bridge critical gaps in the system, adding that reforms were urgently needed to strengthen fairness, uniformity and accountability.

According to him, there is no better moment for reform of the Nigerian military justice system than now, under the leadership of the present CDS and the service chiefs.

He stated that the book would serve as a reference for military lawyers, commanders, civilian lawyers handling court-martial cases, appellate judges, and students in defence institutions.

Mr Ukpe also cautioned against reliance on outdated legal frameworks such as the Manual of Military Law 1972, saying Nigeria needed a harmonised, modern rulebook similar to the British Manual of Court Martial, last updated in 2024.

He said, “Our fragmented approach undermines fairness, uniformity and certainty. I strongly recommend a comprehensive review and harmonisation of our Rules of Procedure in line with the Harmonised Armed Forces Act 2024 and the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service recently assented to by the President.’’

Mr Ukpe further urged military legal officers to see court-martial participation as a national duty, stressing that performance reports should reflect such contributions as part of promotions and appointments.

He stated, “This book is my modest contribution to an institution I proudly served for decades. My hope is that it will inspire reform, strengthen justice, and uphold fairness in the Nigerian Armed Forces.” 

(NAN)