By Sumaila Ogbaje
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has charged Army legal officers to ensure strict adherence to national and international laws in the conduct of military operations.
Shaibu gave the charge on Tuesday in Abuja at the opening of a five-day specialised training workshop for Nigerian Army lawyers.
The workshop, organised by the Directorate of Legal Services (Army), has the theme: “The Role of Legal Officers in Advising Commanders on Compliance with International Humanitarian Law and the Military Justice System.”
The COAS, represented by the Chief of Administration, Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. I.M. Abdullahi, said the training aligned with his command philosophy of transforming the Nigerian Army into a professional, adaptable, combat-ready and resilient force.
He said the COAS considered legal officers critical to the effective implementation of the Army’s mandate, particularly in ensuring that commanders received timely and sound legal advice before, during and after operations.
Shaibu said the Army’s operational successes must be matched by strict compliance with the Constitution, the Armed Forces Act, international humanitarian law, human rights law and applicable rules of engagement.
He urged the participants to remain professionally independent, courageous and objective in advising commanders, adding that their counsel was essential to preventing violations, protecting civilians and strengthening public confidence in the Nigerian Army.
The COAS said legal officers must be fully integrated into operational planning and decision-making processes, rather than being consulted only after incidents had occurred.
He also tasked them with deepening their knowledge of emerging legal issues associated with counter-insurgency, counter-terrorism, cyber operations, detention, targeting and joint operations with other security agencies.
In his welcome address, Col. Samuel Okebukola, Acting Director, Legal Services (Army), said the workshop would strengthen the capacity of legal officers to advise commanders on the application of relevant laws during military operations.
Okebukola described military lawyers as “sentinels of the rule of law in uniform,” responsible for ensuring that the use of force remained within constitutional, statutory and international legal frameworks.
He said legal officers played a dual role of supporting military discipline and effectiveness while upholding professional ethics, independence of counsel and impartial administration of justice.
According to him, the Nigerian Army continues to operate within the ambit of the law, particularly when troops are deployed to support civil authorities in internal security operations.
He said legal officers must understand operational realities to provide commanders with timely and appropriate legal advice, especially during joint and multi-agency operations.
Okebukola said this also included understanding circumstances that met the threshold for the application of international humanitarian law.
He noted that the Nigerian Army’s commitment to lawful conduct extended to compliance with fundamental rights guaranteed under Chapter Four of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
The acting director said the domestication of the Geneva Conventions through the Geneva Conventions Act and other relevant statutes underscored the need for strict compliance during military operations.
According to him, whether serving as prosecutors, defence counsel or operational law advisers, military lawyers have a responsibility to safeguard rights and advise commanders on the limits of lawful military action.
“Legal officers must inject applicable laws, policies and rules of engagement into operational planning and advise commanders on the boundary between legitimate tactical necessity and unlawful overreach,” he said.
On military justice, Okebukola said the Nigerian Army remained committed to ensuring fair trials for personnel appearing before summary trials and courts-martial.
He said such proceedings must be conducted in accordance with Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, the Armed Forces Act and other applicable laws.
He urged participants to make the best use of the training to enhance their professional competence and contribute more effectively to military operations.
Okebukola expressed appreciation to the COAS for his continued support for the Directorate of Legal Services and approval of the specialised training workshop. (NAN
