Newly wedded Nigerian Army officer in trouble for posting wedding video on social media

A Nigerian military officer has landed in trouble for posting a video clip of his wedding on social media.

The Nigerian Army has been requested to punish E. Ali, a lieutenant, in addition to 13 different officers who attended the wedding for allegedly flouting military traditions on the occasion.

In an inner memo dated October 28, seen by PREMIUM TIMES, the army police mentioned the officers violated military traditions on social media use, gown code and etiquette on army marriage.

The Military Police mentioned an investigation revealed that the officers breached the Nigerian Army’s code of ethics in the incident. It additionally charged them with “disobedience to standing order” and beneficial punishment for the alleged violations.

The memo was signed by NH Longpoe, a lieutenant colonel in the Military Police, and was acquired by the Nigerian Army on November 7.

According to the memo, the groom posted video clips of the wedding on a WhatsApp group web page that he shares along with his course mates.

The memo didn’t point out the names of different affected officers, or when and the place the wedding happened.

“Lt E Ali (N/18406) must be charged with disobeying a standing order punishable beneath Section 57(1) of the AFA CAP A20 LFN: 2004 for violating Paragraph 11 (g) of the DHQ coverage on the usage of social media for the FN 2018 by posting his wedding video clips on D$SC Course 25 WhatsApp discussion board,” the memo reads.

“One EE Ukhabi and 12 others will also face disciplinary action for participating in paying formal hand salutes and doing push-ups in honor of the bride during the wedding ceremony of Lt and Mrs E All in violation of Paragraph 46 of the Traditions , Use and Ethics of the NA 2005.”

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Mr Lomgpoe additional mentioned that Ukhabi and a few officers talked about earlier can be punished for showing in “NA No 1 Dress without ceremonial jacket”.

This, the military mentioned, is in violation of paragraph 38 of the NA Dress Regulation of 2005.

However, the memo didn’t state the character of the punitive measures sought towards the officers.

According to the Army’s “Policy on the Use of Social Media for the Armed Forces of Nigeria,” the army considers sure actions to be punishable offences.

“Disregarding rules and regulations governing marriages by posting compromising photos and videos taken in uniform before, during and after the wedding ceremonies,” the doc mentioned.

This just isn’t the primary time that army officers can be in trouble for violating the traditions of the Nigerian Army. In 2018, 149 employees members have been punished for importing their pictures on social media.

Asked by PREMIUM TIMES to speak about it, a human rights lawyer, Jiti Ogunye, mentioned there was nothing unusual in the newest growth however suggested the armed forces to rethink their guidelines to replicate the digital age.

Mr Ogunye mentioned the general public should notice that the army is a “regimented force” and that the conduct of its members is regulated by the Armed Forces Act and rules made beneath the Act.

“To that extent, the constitutional right and freedom available to Nigerians in general are also available to men and officers of the Armed Forces, but these rights are limited,” he mentioned.

“These rights are limited on the basis that these men and officers voluntarily assumed the uniforms and subscribed to military discipline, regimentation and martial law.”

Mr Ogunye mentioned that if there was a breach, and there was a sanction imposed, however the officers aren’t happy with the sanction, “such an officer can search treatment throughout the scheme of army justice which can be handled thereafter and might lastly strategy the courtroom in respect of it.”

However, the lawyer mentioned that in the sunshine of the digital dispensation, the military should rethink their inflexible system and be sure that their guidelines are per sure human rights as assured by the structure.

“We dwell in an data age and a digital age, and I feel that the fixed conflict between army formalism is inflexible adherence to order, oaths, indicators and rules must be questioned and reconsidered in the sunshine of the creativity, the creation, expertise, the modernity at play right here,” mentioned Mr Ogunye.

“This alleged misconduct must be re-examined. Is it completely misplaced for males in uniform to be socialized in the Nigerian household, no matter being in the army, in this digital age, in phrases of utilizing social media – Facebook, WhatsApp, which ‘ n allow the total enjoyment of the rights to impart and obtain data and impart concepts beneath article 39 of the structure and article 19 of the United Nations constitution?

“Moreover, if we now have seen these days, the identical army males utilizing social media to have a good time their victory in the bush towards Boko Haram and the like.

“The question is that, if soldiers are allowed to sing and celebrate their victory, because they have pillaged or killed the enemy, and they are not penalized, why is a soldier penalized for celebrating his marriage?”