Categories: News

Those Calling For Trial Of Ex Service Chiefs By ICC Unpatriotic – FG

Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, says those clamouring for the prosecution of the ex-service chiefs by the International Criminal Court (ICC) at the Hague do not love the Nigeria.

Some civil society organisations (CSOs) and individuals have dragged former service chiefs, particularly against Tukur Buratai, ex-army chief, to the ICC, with allegations of financial impropriety and crime against humanity levelled against them

There have been complaints about the activities of Buratai, Gabriel Olonisakin, former chief of defence staff; Ibok Ibas, former chief of naval staff; Sadique Abubakar, ex-chief of air staff; when they held sway in the highest echelon of the military.

After perennial and strident agitation for their removal over their failings and inability to end the decade long insurgence in the north east, They were finally replaced last week.

But Mohammed said the past service chiefs act within the confines of rules of engagement, adding that they did not violate any known convention or breach any rule.

He averred that civilians lack the pedigree to pass judgment on how the army run its affairs or comment on military structure and formations in the north-east or in any other part of the country.

“To the best of my knowledge, our service chiefs obey the rules of engagement and where there are infractions, there are internal regulations and internal mechanisms to address them,” The PUNCH quoted the minister as saying on a radio programme.

“Those who are calling for the ex-service chiefs to be invited to ICC are unpatriotic people.

“Those who talk about the structure, what do they know about the structure of the military? I don’t think any of us is competent to talk about the structure of the military.”