After enduring six years of detention without trial, Haruna Abbas, a former rating in the Nigerian Navy, has been dismissed from service by the Defence Headquarters for disobeying orders.

Tukur Gusau, the Director of Defence Information, disclosed this to journalists on Wednesday, according to The Punch.

The spokesperson said that Abbas faced a court-martial on charges including disobedience, destruction of service property and resisting arrest. The offences, according to Gusau, violated Sections 56(1), 86(1), and 66(c) of the Armed Forces Act, CAP A20, Laws of the Federation 2004.

Gusau also said that Abbas pleaded guilty to all charges during his trial. The Chief of Naval Staff ratified the court-martial’s verdict.

READ MORE: Army Brigadier Order of Navy’s Abbas Haruna’s 6-Year-Long Detention Violates Forces Act

“Ex-Seaman Abbas Haruna M5759 was arraigned before the General Court Martial (GCM) on charges of disobedience to particular orders, resistance to arrest, and offences in relation to public and service property,” Gusau stated. “He pleaded guilty to all charges, and the GCM deliberated on the evidence presented before arriving at its verdict.”

The spokesperson narrated how Abbas’ trial had dragged on for over a year, with proceedings starting in February 2023 and final ratification in September 2024.

During this period, Abbas was on open arrest at Mogadishu Cantonment in Abuja, according to Gusau.

“The GCM found him guilty on all counts. He was reduced in rank from Seaman to Ordinary Seaman on one count, and dismissed with ignominy on the remaining two counts, effective from February 7, 2023,” Gusau said.

“He was kept on open arrest until the sentences were confirmed by the Chief of Naval Staff in September 2024.”

Abbas’ case gained attention in September when Hussaina Illiyasu, his wife, publicly accused Brigadier MS Adamu, a superior officer in the army, of detaining him illegally. Illiyasu appeared on the social justice show Berekete, claiming that her husband was detained after resisting attempts to disarm him.

Shortly after Illiyasu’s public statement, a viral video of soldiers trying to disarm Abbas circulated on social media, fueling controversy about the manner in which he was disarmed, arrested and kept in detention.

The Defence HQ spokesperson defended the actions of Abbas’ commander. He said that commanders have the authority to disarm soldiers if trust is lost.

READ MORE: Naval Officer Illegally Detained on Army Brigadier’s Order in 2018 Regains Freedom

“If you give a weapon to someone and no longer trust them, you don’t wait until they commit an offence before retrieving it,” Gusau said.

“The weapon belongs to the state and it can be taken back if a commander feels it’s necessary.”

The  Armed Forces Act (2004) outlines punitive measures for military personnel who disobey orders or resist arrest. It allows for imprisonment of up to two years or lesser penalties and also sets a time limit for the detention of officers.

Abbas was however kept in detention since 2018 and was just recently released following his wife’s public appeal and consequent outrage on social media.
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