The Nigerian Navy has dismissed Seaman Haruna Abbas, a naval officer detained for over six years.
Abbas’ dismissal followed the completion of a General Court Martial (GCM) that found him guilty of disobedience to orders, resisting arrest, and damaging military property.
The story of Abbas’ arrest and subsequent six-year detention has sparked widespread public interest, particularly after his wife, Hussaina Iliya, went on air, claiming her husband had been unjustly detained since 2018.
Her bold claim brought the case back into the spotlight, prompting a high-level investigation by the military leadership.
The ordeal of Seaman Abbas first captured public attention when Hussaina Iliya, his wife, shared her husband’s plight on a popular Abuja radio station.
She accused the military of detaining her husband for an attempt to disarm him back in 2018.
Her passionate plea went viral, leading to a response from top military officials.
Shortly after her appearance on air, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, ordered a thorough investigation into the matter.
This probe has now culminated in Abbas’ dismissal from the Nigerian Navy.
Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, the Director of Defence Information, provided key updates on the case at a press briefing held at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.
Gusau confirmed that Seaman Abbas had been dismissed following a GCM, which was convened on September 19, 2024, to address the allegations against him.
The military court found Abbas guilty of all charges, which included disobedience to orders, resistance to arrest, and damaging military property.
His dismissal took effect on February 7, 2023, although it took several months for the full legal process to be completed.
According to Brigadier General Gusau, Abbas was initially demoted from Seaman to Ordinary Seaman before being dismissed with ignominy from the Nigerian Navy on two of the three charges.
During the trial, the military presented evidence from both prosecution and defense witnesses.
Abbas, for his part, pleaded guilty to all charges.
“The ex-Seaman pleaded guilty to all the charges during the trial,” Brigadier General Gusau said.
“The GCM considered the nature of the offence, his guilty plea, and mitigating factors before arriving at its final verdict.”
The court found Abbas’ actions grave enough to warrant dismissal, particularly in light of the fact that he resisted arrest by using his service weapon.
One of the most shocking revelations during the court martial was the extent to which Abbas resisted arrest.
Gusau recounted the incident that led to his arrest, detailing how Abbas defied orders from his commanding officer.
The situation unfolded during a parade in preparation for Operation Ayam Akpatuma, a military exercise aimed at addressing security challenges in Nigeria.
According to Gusau, while the Commanding Officer was addressing troops on the parade ground, Abbas repeatedly interrupted him.
The officer, visibly frustrated with Abbas’ behavior, ordered him to report to the guard room.
Abbas, however, refused to obey.
When the officer instructed his arrest, Abbas reportedly used his service weapon to resist.
“He expended 16 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition in an attempt to prevent other soldiers from taking him into custody,” Gusau revealed.
This dangerous act of defiance led to his eventual arrest and charges of resisting lawful orders and damaging military property.
In the wake of the case, there were also concerns regarding Abbas’ mental health.
His wife had suggested that he might have been suffering from mental illness, which could have contributed to his actions.
However, Brigadier General Gusau firmly dismissed these claims.
“We have medical evidence that proves Abbas was mentally fit to stand trial,” he said.
Gusau explained that medical personnel were called in to examine Abbas multiple times, and all evaluations indicated that he was mentally and physically capable of participating in the trial.
“The first court-martial was dissolved to give him enough time to seek medical attention,” Gusau added.
“But all reports came back stating he was mentally fit to stand trial.”
After the GCM’s initial decision, the legal process went through several stages before being ratified by the Chief of Naval Staff, Emmanuel Ogalla, in September 2024.
The Record of Proceedings was submitted to the Defence Headquarters in June 2023 and subsequently transmitted to the Naval Headquarters.
Finally, on September 19, 2024, the Chief of Naval Staff confirmed the dismissal.
Abbas’ punishment, which included his demotion and eventual dismissal, was deemed appropriate given the seriousness of his offenses.
Brigadier General Gusau further defended the actions of Abbas’ commander, emphasizing the importance of discipline in the armed forces.
“When a commander no longer trusts a soldier with a weapon, it is within his authority to disarm that soldier,” Gusau explained.
“The weapon belongs to the state, and commanders have a responsibility to ensure it is used appropriately.”