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Nigerian Army Declares Officer AWOL For Marrying Foreigner, She Sues The Army

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Stock Photo Female Army Officer

Major N.U. Ukachukwu, a female Nigerian Army officer, found herself entangled in a legal dispute with the military leadership following her marriage to a foreigner and her subsequent voluntary resignation.

Background of the Case

In 2021, while on a doctoral research programme, Major Ukachukwu met and married K. Lawton in Scotland, UK. Upon deciding to resign, she communicated her intention to the Nigerian Army, anticipating the end of her military service.

However, the Army’s response was far from what she expected. Instead of accepting her resignation, the Nigerian Army declared her Absent Without Leave (AWOL) and proceeded with an order for her arrest, propelling the case into the legal realm.

Legal Proceedings and Arguments

Major Ukachukwu, feeling aggrieved by the Nigerian Army’s actions, took the matter to the Federal High Court, Abuja, under Suit no: FHC/ABJ/CS/282/2023. She sought judicial intervention to ascertain her rights under Section 151 of the Traditions, Customs, and Ethics of the Nigerian Army, asserting that she had lawfully resigned and should not be deemed as having deserted her post.

Her lawyer, Godwin Idem, laid out the timeline and circumstances of her resignation, highlighting the bureaucratic inaction and eventual punitive measures taken against her. According to Idem, despite Major Ukachukwu’s formal communication of her resignation, the Nigerian Army took seven months to respond, only to declare her AWOL and later reject her resignation outright. The legal battle intensified with the Army’s insistence on her unauthorized absence and the initiation of an arrest warrant under the Armed Forces Act.

In contrast, the defense, represented by Deborah Bassey, Esq., argued that Major Ukachukwu had exceeded the approved duration of her study leave and failed to return to her duties in Nigeria as obligated. The defense stressed that the Army had not extended her study leave beyond October 2021 and contested the legitimacy of her resignation, citing regulations against marrying foreigners and the procedural requirements for commission relinquishment.

Judicial Ruling

The case took a significant turn when Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court adjudicated on the matter. In a ruling dated March 15, 2024, Justice Ekwo determined that the crux of the dispute fell within the realm of employment issues, particularly those related to military service and discipline.

He pointed out that the National Industrial Court, as per Section 254 C of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), holds exclusive jurisdiction over employment-related matters.

Justice Ekwo’s judgment emphasized the disciplinary framework within the Nigerian Army, noting that such matters are integral to the employment context and hence fall under the purview of the National Industrial Court. Acknowledging the procedural norms, he declined jurisdiction over the case, opting instead to transfer it to the National Industrial Court for a more appropriate adjudication.

In his reasoned decision, Justice Ekwo highlighted the importance of maintaining order and discipline within the military service, suggesting that the alleged AWOL declaration against Major Ukachukwu was part of broader employment and disciplinary considerations that the National Industrial Court should evaluate.

This transfer not only underlined the legal complexities surrounding military employment issues but also marked a pivotal step in determining the legitimacy of Major Ukachukwu’s actions and the Nigerian Army’s response thereto.

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“APC doesn’t have capacity to solve Nigerian problems” – El-Rufai talks tough

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Immediate-past governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has expressed reservations over the capacity of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to tackle the challenges confronting the country.

El-Rufai, who is a founding member of the APC, stated this during a conference on strengthening democracy in Nigeria in Abuja on Monday.

The conference was organised by the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development [Centre LS], the Centre for Democracy and Development, CDD, the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, WFD, the Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa, PAACA, and the National Peace Committee, NPC.

He said: “I no longer recognise the APC. No party organ of the APC has met for the past two years. No caucus, no NEC, nothing. You don’t even know if it is a one-man show; it is a zero-man show,” he added.

He recalled that the original goal of forming the APC was to build a progressive party focused on fighting corruption, revamping the economy, and restoring security.

He, however, said these objectives have been abandoned.

“The problems are still there. However, I no longer believe that my party believes in confronting those problems.

“So, the distance between me and APC is widening, but I remain where I am because these problems remain the living problems of Nigerians, and they have to be addressed, and the only way to address them is through the instrumentality of the political parties,” he added.

On the states of opposition parties, the former governor said, “The way and manner opposition political parties are being targeted for destruction and the style and quality of governance in this country today is a national emergency. It should concern everyone.

“And I think this is a problem for all of us to think about and play a role in changing it because, as His Excellency [Atiku] said, we stand the risk of losing democracy itself.”
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“Your blessings will reduce if you collect money from pastors” – Pastor David Ibiyeomie (Video)

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David Ibiyeomie

The general overseer of Salvation Ministries, Pastor David Ibiyeomie, has cautioned his congregation, advising them against accepting money from senior pastors so as not to reduce their blessings.

In a video making the rounds online, Ibiyeomie stated that this practice is not supported by scripture and can hinder one’s financial prosperity.

Addressing his church members, Ibiyeomie emphasized the importance of giving to senior pastors rather than receiving from them. He stated that giving financially to senior ministers can bring divine blessings and unlock greater prosperity.

David Ibiyeomie said, “May I tell you one raw truth? It may be hard, but never collect money from a senior man of God. You are reducing your blessing.”

Pastor Ibiyeomie shared from his personal experience, stating that he has never sought financial assistance from his spiritual mentor, Bishop David Oyedepo, even during difficult times.

Pastor Ibiyeomie

He said, “I’ll be the last person to collect a dime from Oyedepo, not because challenges have not come. That’s not how it works.”

“There are senior men to me today, and I can sow into their lives. But I will not go and say, ‘Pastor Femi, can you please help me?’ It’s not scriptural. Don’t collect money from a senior man; you are reducing your prosperity. Sow into the senior man to draw virtue for the next level.”

Watch the video below:

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Man Stabs Girlfriend To Death In Lagos

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The Lagos State police have arrested a 47-year-old man, identified as Emmanuel Chukwuma, for stabbing his 45-year-old girlfriend, Bosede Adefehinti, to death on 7th Avenue, Festac.

Naija Latest Gist learnt that the suspect, popularly known as Oliver on the street, and the deceased have been living together as boyfriend and girlfriend.

An eyewitness who spoke to Vanguard said it was not the first time the lovers had issues, adding that an inferiority complex on the part of the man had caused the fight.

He said, “Yesterday around 2:30 pm, Oliver stabbed his girlfriend, and after stabbing her, he tried to kill himself by jumping into the well, but we stopped him and called the police.

“They are not married, and this is not the first time they have had issues, but yesterday’s was beyond anything before.

“What I believe caused the fight was an inferiority complex on the man’s part because he has no job and helps his girlfriend sell herbal medicines, popularly known as Agbo—a concoction prepared from a variety of herbs.

“So most times, when he’s selling, the girlfriend leaves the shop while he remains there, sometimes receiving banter from the customers.”

Confirming the incident, the Lagos State Police Spokesman, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, said the suspect has been arrested, and the case file will be transferred to the Homicide section, Panti.

He said, “At about 3:10 pm, a distress call was received that one Emmanuel Chukwuma, aged 47 years, stabbed his girlfriend, Bosede Adefehinti, aged 45 years, to death.

“Immediately, detectives and a patrol team visited the scene of the crime. The suspect was arrested from the well where he hid.

“Photographs were taken while waiting for Lagos State health staff for the possible evacuation of the corpse to the mortuary.

“Meanwhile, the case file will be transferred to the Homicide section, Panti.”

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