By Aliyu Dahiru Aliyu
Muhammad Ibrahim Daura has called for justice after he was ‘illegally’ withdrawn from Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna, after his passing our parade.
Muhammad has successfully completed his four years Navy Regular Combatant Training at the NDA and ready to proceed to Nigeria Naval College when he was accused of misconduct and got sacked alongside other cadets.
Investigation has revealed that the misconduct the official of the NDA accused Muhammad of, was attending a ceremony organised by his father to celebrate his passing out parade (POP).
The POP which was held on October 5, 2019, was attended by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo representing President Muhammadu Buhari.
Experts familiar with the rules and regulations of the academy said the ceremony that Muhammad attended is not against the rules in the NDA Hand Book as he and his friends attended it after their POP.
They added that the new NDA Commandant, Maj. Gen. Jamil Sarham, has illegally violated the rules of the NDA Hand Book in his selective injustice.
According to the father of Muhammad, evidences show that several cadets have attended different ceremonies after the POP but only few were illegally sacked.
The father alleged that the sacking of his son is related to personal misunderstanding between the son and one of his officers.
“He was illegally detained for six days in a guardroom, which is against the military act and the federal constitution,” the father said.
The father said he sent a petition to the NDA but no action was taken. He then took the matter to the National Assembly for further action but the Covid-19 pandemic stopped the investigations.
It was gathered that Maj. Gen. Sarham wants change what was in the 2018 Hand Book in 2020 to bring back the Navy and Airforce back to NDA for a new Passing Out Parade after they have already passed out.
He was also accused of trying to use that to justify the decision of withdrawing the 9 Officer Cadets of 67th Regular Course whose case of illegal withdrawal after their successful POP and Convocation is already before the National Assembly.
The father said they have heard the stories of other cadets going back to the college but his son was still not called back.
The National Assembly is going to sit again on the issue this September, 2020.
