Reps to investigate Brigadier-General over alleged six years detention of seaman, Abbas

The House of Representatives Committee on Navy has vowed to investigate a six-year detention of Seaman Abbas Haruna on the order of Brigadier General MS Adamu.

Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi in a statement on Monday lamented the long detention of a junior officer of the Navy without trial contrary to the Act that establish the military, adding that all officers involved in the illegality would face the full wrath of the law.

The panel Chairman said, he listened to the pathetic story on the popular Human Rights Radio when the wife of the incarcerated officer narrated the, saying that her husband was detained in his last station in Taraba in 2018 on the order of Brigadier General MS Haruna, insisting that such development would not be acceptable in Nigeria.

The statement which was made available to journalists in Abuja on Monday partly read:”The ordeal of Seaman Abbas, as narrated by his wife Mrs Hussaina Iliyasu on ‘Berekete’, a Human Rights Television program, started in 2018 when he was drafted on a joint operations in Sarti Baruwa Taraba state.

“He was to serve under the command of Brigadier MS Adamu, but a misunderstanding ensued between the duo, leading to his detention under inhuman condition for several years without proper trial as enshrined in the Armed Forces Act 2004 Law of the Federation of Nigeria.

“The inhuman treatment meted on the naval personnel over a minor misunderstanding with his superior army officer, had made many audience in the studio to shed tears while the wife was narrating her husband’s ordeal.

“The degree of heartlessness exhibited by Brigadier General MS Adamu to his subordinate over a minor incident, has drawn wide condemnation from millions of conscious Nigerians who heard the story.

“The pathetic story of Seaman Abbas Haruna, monitored on ‘Berekete’ has prompted the House of Representatives Committee on Navy to wade into the matter with the view of unfolding the truth and upholding the integrity of our military and the right of every individual under the extant law of the land.

“Additionally, the need to also fish out all officers involved and follow up with the military hierarchy to ensure everyone who has a hand in the gross violation of Seaman Abbas’ rights are decisively brought to book.”