MILITARY LAW

Service Rules and rules of engagement form part of our practice and area of consultation. We defend service personnel before special and general court martial and can initiate an appeal against a Court Martial’s verdict.

The spate of insurgencies and unrest around sub-saharan Africa has resulted in series of military operations that have sprung up issues on balancing counter-terrorism with human rights. Human Rights Desk and Freedom of Information Desk have been established by the Nigeria Armed Forces. We also explore this aspect of Nigeria’s military justice system.

Agbiti v. The Nigerian Navy [2007]

The operational law that provides for legitimacy, structure and discipline in the Armed Forces is the Armed Forces Act 2004. This law provides for a Court Martial to try those who break the law. A distinct procedure of trial, where after the conclusion of evidence and addresses of counsel on both sides, a Judge Advocate summarizes the case for the parties and directs the martial on the applicable law and the voting procedure is provided for by the rules of the Court Martial. Clearly this procedure is not applicable in the ordinary civil Courts where evidence on both sides must be evaluated by the judge or judges that heard the case.…Paul Adamu Galinje, JCA (Born April 21, 1950 and now Justice of the Supreme Court)