…THREATENS LAWSUIT
By Okosun Dennis
A legal tussle might ensue between the Spokesperson, Coalition of Concerned Veterans (CCV), Abiodun Durowaiye-Herberts, and the Nigerian Navy except urgent step is taken to halt such move as the former naval personnel has threatened a lawsuit against Rear Admiral KC Ezete and the Nigerian Navy over maltreatment and assault on him at the Naval Headquarters, Abuja.
Durowaiye-Herberts, who is also the National Coordinator, Retired Members of Nigerian Armed Forces (REMENAF), in a formal petition titled: “Formal Complaint Against Rear Admiral KC Ezete (The Chief of Admin), NHQ, His Naval Assistant (NA) And The Nigerian Navy For Wrongful, Unfair and Unethical Maltreatment And Humiliation Of a Veteran Leader” and dated 20th September 2023, alleged that he was verbally assaulted, walked out and banned not to enter Naval Headquarters again.
In the petition made available to our correspondent, he averred that such a practice violates his fundamental human rights under a democracy.
As a result of the alleged breach of his human rights, he has given 14 days to the Chief of Administration, Rear Admiral KC Ezete, his Naval Assistant (NA), and the Nigerian Navy to tender an unreserved apology to him or he might be “constrained to take further actions in the law courts against Admiral Ezete for “manifest humiliation and restriction from the NHQ.”
Durowaiye-Herberts explained that he had on the 8th of August 2023, visited the Chief of Admin, at the premises of the Naval Headquarters, Garki, Abuja, with a letter on behalf of Coalition of Concerned (Military) Veterans with respect to outstanding payments and allowances of some retired officers and ratings which we (CCV) have been pursuing with the administration of the immediate past Chief of Naval Staff.
As expected, he was said to have approached the Naval Assistant (NA) to Rear Admiral KC Ezete and was ushered into his office. Soon after exchanging pleasantries and with his permission, “I began to take him and his NA through our journey so far with his predecessors concerning the outstanding payments and allowances owed some of our members (veterans).
“I had barely spoken when the COA interjected in an embarrassing voice saying: “Navy doesn’t pay such allowances, who told you Navy does?” In my attempt to explain to him, he interjected yet again asked me not to continue to talk and asked him out of his office. I quietly stood up and made my way out while he asked his NA to escort me out of the complex.”
Having seen him out of the gate, he added in the petition, acting on Admiral Ezete’s instruction, the NA gave an order to an Intelligence officer never to let Durowaiye-Herberts into the Naval Headquarters again.
“As I walked out, a big public embarrassment followed as the NA accompanied me right to the exit point where he informed the intelligent personnel to, never, henceforth allow me access into the Naval Headquarters,” Abiodun Durowaiye-Herberts explained in his petition.
As a retired naval personnel, representing thousands of retired military officers of Nigerian Armed Forces whose membership cuts across the ranks from “Private to Generals and its equivalent in the Armed Forces” and who has had several meetings with very Senior Military Officers, including the immediate past Chief of Admin (COA), Chief of Accounts and Budgets (CAB), DOA, Directorate of Veteran Affairs Department (DVAD) at different times in the same complex, expressed shock that none has disrespected him like the way Rear Admiral Ezete did.
He observed such an attitude was “undignified, unacceptable and unbecoming of a senior officer, particularly on a matter that could have been discussed amicably without necessarily resulting to the humiliation of any sort like it had been the case with his predecessors.”
Besides demanding an apology from the senior officer, the petitioner seeks to know especially as a leader of a non-violent military veteran group, “What wrong or offence did I commit that warrants my restriction from the Ministry of Defence Headquarters?
Secondly, “How did I deserve such public embarrassment and humiliation and what right has the COA to give such a directive of my restriction from the NHQ premises through his NA considering my status as a Veteran leader of good standing, who was not there on a mission to beg for money from anyone, but inline of his official duty to get a redress for the affected personnel?
Durowaiye-Herberts further reiterated that he will not hesitate to escalate to appropriate government agencies such as the Public Complaints Commission, The Human Rights Commission, and The National Assembly except if an apology is tendered by the Chief of Administration.
When contacted, the Director of Information (DINFO), Commodore Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan said, “Same received at the Naval Headquarters too,” but he didn’t say anything about action taken to address issues raised in the petition against Rear Admiral KC Ezete, Chief of Administration.
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