Maltreatment: Naval Chief to appear before NASS on Monday

By: Okosun Dennis

The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Admiral Ibok Ette Ibas has been summoned to appear before the House Representative Committee on Navy for various official infractions and maltreatment melted out on a junior rating by a senior officer.

It was learnt that the naval Chief was served the letter on the 14th July, 2020 and titled: “Invitation for Public Hearing and Request for Documents,” was signed by the Chairman, Committee on Navy, Right Honourable Yusuf Adamu Gagdi.

Particularly, the CNS has been instructed to appear before the Committee with Rear Admiral Ishola Mohammed, the Chief of Policy and Plans, Naval Headquarters for inhuman and degrading treatment he allegedly melted out on Seaman Haruna Goshit.

Earlier in the week, the naval rating, who is currently serving at Kacha was the Personal Security Orderly to the officer; had in a viral video narrated how he was subjected to the most bizzare ill-treatment by the senior officer.

The letter obtained by Nationalwire online stated and read in parts: “Pursuant to the provisions of section 88 and 89 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and order XVIII-Rule 6 of the House of Representatives standing Rules, the house at plenary of Tuesday, 14th July, 2020 considered a matter of urgent public importance, resolved and mandated this Committee to investigate the inhuman treatment on Navy Seaman, Haruna Goshit and other injustice to other officers of the Nigerian Navy, complaints on recruitments and promotion in the Navy since 2015 till date.

“Consequently, you are therefore invited to provide detailed information on recruitment and promotion exercise between 2015 to date.

“All information on the alleged abuse of office by Rear Admiral I.O Mohammed that led to inhuman treatment on Navy Seaman Haruna Goshit, involvement of other officers; all issues of indiscipline reported to the Nigerian Navy.

“In view of the above, you are to cause appearance before this Committee on Monday, 20th July, 2020 at 11am in Committee Room 034, House of Representatives’ New Building to defend all the issues.”

In addition, the letter of summons indicated that Admiral Ibas is expected to appear with “all officers affected including the officers that are relevant to this Investigation must appear.”

This is the second time in less than two weeks that the Chief of Naval Staff would be summoned to defend some infractions under his watch as the Chief of Naval Staff.

The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas was supposed to appear before the House of Representatives on Public Accounts to defend a query on N11.5million sent by the Auditor General of the Federations Office.

The Chairman of the committee, Wole Oke (PDP-Osun) who issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Chief of Naval Staff to appear in person before the committee failed to appear as he sent the Assistant Director of Budget, Commander Murtala Ahmed to represent him.

It was learnt that the Chief of Naval Staff couldn’t appear in person because of other service exigencies.