The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has expressed concern about the slow pace of justice in Nigeria, especially in cases involving criminals. Speaking in an interview with News Central TV, he said delays in prosecuting criminals weaken the morale of troops who risk their lives to arrest offenders.
General Musa suggested that mobile courts should be introduced to handle such cases quickly. According to him, once a crime is committed, the punishment should follow immediately. He explained that long delays reduce the seriousness of the crime in the eyes of the public and discourage soldiers who put in the effort to capture the criminals.
He gave the example of the well-known kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly called Evans. Despite being arrested years ago and having strong evidence against him, his case is still dragging on in court. “Somebody like Evans, with kidnapping issues, with all the facts, the case is still pending, what’s going on?” he asked.
The Defence Chief stressed that the military’s job is to arrest suspects and hand them over to the authorities. After that, they have no power over what happens next. He called on lawmakers and the justice system to review the laws and make them stricter.
General Musa believes that once someone is caught in serious crimes like kidnapping or terrorism, they should be jailed immediately. This, he said, would serve as a strong warning to others and allow the military to focus on tackling new threats.
