He said Seaman Abbas Haruna was dismissed for alleged “disobedience to particular orders, resistance to arrest and offences in relation to public and service property.”
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), has announced the dismissal of a naval rating, Seaman Abbas Haruna, for allegedly disobeying a superior officer while on duty.
This was announced on Wednesday by the Director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Tukur Gusau while briefing Defence correspondents in Abuja.
He said Seaman Abbas Haruna was dismissed for alleged “disobedience to particular orders, resistance to arrest and offences in relation to public and service property.”
Haruna’s wife, Mrs. Hussaina Iliyasu, had alleged that her husband was unlawfully detained for nearly six years, on the orders of Brigadier General MS Adamu.
She said this when she appeared on a human rights TV programme, "Berekete," alleging that her husband had been detained since 2018 following a misunderstanding with Adamu during a joint operation in Taraba State.
However, Gusau stated that the ex-seaman was dismissed after the Chief of Naval Staff ratified the General Court Martial instituted by the Defence Headquarters.
He said, “The case involving Ex Seaman Abbas Haruna M5759 started when he was found misbehaving during a parade. Specifically, the ex-rating was part of the parade during a coordinating conference of the Commanding Officer (CO), when he was addressing troops of Exercise AYAM AKPATUMA preparing for operation.”
He continued: “While the CO was addressing the troops, the ex-rating continually interrupted the address which warranted the CO to direct him to report to the guard room.
“However, the rating refused to obey the order. Thus, the CO directed his arrest but the ex-rating resisted and expended 16 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition belonging to the NN to prevent other soldiers from taking him into custody.
“Ex-Seaman Abbas Haruna M5759 was arraigned before the GCM on 3 counts charge of Disobedience to Particular Orders, Resistance to Arrest and Offences in Relation to Public and Service Property contrary to Sections 56 (1), 86 (1) and 66 (c) of the Armed Forces Act (AFA) Act CAP A20 Laws of the Federation (LFN) 2004, respectively.”
He said the ex-rating “pleaded guilty to all the charges during the trial”.
He said, “Accordingly, at the conclusion of proceedings, the GCM found Ex-Seaman Abbas Haruna M5759 guilty on all counts.
“Based on this, he was sentenced to Reduction in Rate from Seaman to Ordinary Seaman on Count One and Dismissal with Ignominy on Counts 2 and 3 with effect from 7 February 2023.
“Thereafter, the ex-rating was placed on open arrest at the arrival hall in Mogadishu Cantonment, Abuja pending confirmation of the sentences by the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS). The Record of Proceedings (ROP) of the trial was forwarded to DHQ on 27 June 2023 and subsequently transmitted to Naval Headquarters (NHQ) on 8 August 2023.
“The sentences of the GCM were thereafter confirmed by the Chief of Naval Staff with effect from 19 September 2024.”
However, the DDI explained that contrary to information on social media, ex-seaman Haruna was mentally stable before the trial.