Femi Falana, human rights lawyer, says a suit will be filed
to challenge President Muhammadu Buhari’s refusal to sack the service chiefs.
The service chiefs —
Gabriel Olonisakin, chief of defence staff; Tukur Buratai, chief of army staff;
Sadique Abubakar, chief of air staff, and Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, chief of naval
staff — were overdue for retirement, having spent more than 35 years in
service.
Some lawmakers and other Nigerians have asked the president
to sack the service chiefs over the security challenges in the country.
But the presidency condemned the call, saying beneficiaries
of Boko Haram are inciting protests against the service chiefs.
Speaking on Channels TV on Monday, Falana described as an
“embarrassment”, the statement by the presidency cautioning citizens from
protesting against the service chiefs.
The human rights lawyer said a suit will be filed this week
to challenge the president’s decision to keep the service chiefs.
“Under the public service rule, under the harmonised rules
for military officers in Nigeria and under Section 6 of the armed forces act,
which empowers the President to make rules and regulations for the military,
there is no provision for extension of tenure (for Service Chiefs) beyond the
period stipulated by law,” he said.
“It has been done in the past, but that does not make it
right. There is equality before the law, so you can’t extend the service of
certain officers while you ask others to go after 35 years of service or the
attainment of 60 years of age. To the best of my knowledge, a suit will be
filed during the week, in respect of this matter.
“The President must be prevailed upon to appreciate that we
may also be undergoing what you might describe as internal sabotage (in the
fight against insurgency) by many members of the armed forces who simply feel
since these are the people who can stop insurgency or terrorism, let them go
ahead. Because the Chief of Army Staff himself has had an occasion to accuse
members of the armed forces of not doing enough.”
Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the house of representatives,
had said opinions were divided on the stay of the service chiefs in office
despite rising insecurity.
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