TheCable

Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, says those calling for the trial of the ex-service chiefs by the International Criminal Court (ICC) at the Hague are unpatriotic.

Some civil society organisations (CSOs) have filed complaints against the former service chiefs, particularly against Tukur Buratai, ex-army chief, at the ICC.

There have been complaints about the way Buratai, Gabriel Olonisakin, former chief of defence staff; Ibok Ibas, former chief of naval staff; Sadique Abubakar, ex-chief of air staff; ran the affairs of the military.

They were replaced last week after so many calls on President Muhammadu Buhari to sack them for their alleged poor handling of the insurgency in the north-east.

But Mohammed said the past service chiefs did not breach any rule.

According to him, civilians are not competent to talk on military structure and formations in the north-east or in any other part of the country.

“To the best of my knowledge, our service chiefs obey the rules of engagement and where there are infractions, there are internal regulations and internal mechanisms to address them,” The PUNCH quoted the minister as saying on a radio programme.

“Those who are calling for the ex-service chiefs to be invited to ICC are unpatriotic people.

“Those who talk about the structure, what do they know about the structure of the military? I don’t think any of us is competent to talk about the structure of the military.”

In January, Mohammed said Nigeria will not surrender its sovereignty to the ICC.