Colonel battles army board over retirement
By WOLE BALOGUN
Thursday February 23, 2012
Wilson Ochoroghene Vincent Ijide, a 54-year-old man from Delta State, is at the moment a sad and frustrated man. He is unhappy and cheerless, wearing a gloomy face each day and night. So, what could have been responsible for his sadness?
Three years ago, Ijide received an unexpected letter from the Military Secretary, Mambilla Barracks, Abuja, notifying him of the army council’s decision to compulsorily retire him from the Nigerian Army. His offence? He was accused of not passing promotion tests on three consecutive occasions
The letter also advised him to apply for voluntary retirement and to commence his terminal leave from May 1, that year but Ijide declined to take either of the two options. To him, it was illegal for him to be so kicked out of service, asserting that his past records of 34 years in the Nigerian army negated the decision of the army board’s refusal to promote him.
He, therefore, despatched the notification letter with an S.O.S letter to the then President Umaru Yar’Adua, alleging unfair treatment by the army promotion board. He asked for a review of the board’s assessment of his past records, which he noted were usually considered as yardsticks for promotion even as he gave reasons why his position on the matter should be considered. Ijide also narrated details of his service in the Nigerian Army to the president, with particular mention of his outstanding performance, which had earned him several recommendations for promotion even up to Brigadier General. .
He ensured that the letter got to Aso Rock in Abuja and to other appropriate quarters. But mum has been the word from the authorities since, even as the Army has continued to withhold his salaries since April, 2010.
A distraught Ijide told Daily Sun that he was forced to seek help from the court, saying he got an order, restraining the military board from withholding his emoluments, pending determination of the motion on notice.
The text of the High Court order, issued in Abuja by Justice D.U Okorowo, On May 26, 2010, reads in part: “It is hereby stated as follows: that the defendants/respondents either by themselves, agents or privies are restrained from giving effect to the contents of the letter of notification of retirement: failure at promotion board 2/2009 Col. W.O.V Ijide (N/6782/dated 2nd December, 2009 issued by 4th defendant to the plaintiff.”
“That the defendants/respondents are restrained either by themselves, agents or privies from compulsorily retiring the plaintiff from the Nigerian army with effect from the 31st day of May, 2010 or any other date.
“In 1 and 2 above pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.”
Despite the court order, which, according to Ijide, now lies on the table of the Chief of Army Staff, in Abuja, no concrete action has been taken on the order.
Ijide now appeals to President Goodluck Jonathan, the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, to use his good offices to direct the Chief of Army Staff to comply with an Abuja High Court order, restraining the army from retiring him prematurely. Fighting back tears, Ijide told Daily Sun that since his salary has been stopped last year, he has been depending on relatives and friends to take care of his wife and children.
Adding that he has become a huge debtor, Ijide narrated his ordeal in pursuing justice. Said he: “The former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. A. B. Danbazzau, failed to comply with the court order before his removal from office. But I see the appointment of a new Chief of Army Staff in the person of Lieutenant General Ihejirika as a beacon of hope that justice would be served without further delay. That is why I had appealed to the new Chief of Army Staff through appropriate alternative channel to look into the case, at least, to comply with the court order pending determination of the motion on notice but I got no reply. I also sent a letter of appeal to the new COAS with a copy to his chief legal adviser as advised by the latter but there was no positive outcome. Owing to such failed efforts, the stoppage of my salary since April 2010, coupled with the series of adjournments in the case before Justice Okorowo, I am using this medium to appeal to Mr. President to direct the Chief of Army Staff to comply with the court order and do what is proper in the interest of democracy and in the spirit of equity and justice. I hold no grudges against anyone over my travails; rather, I see them as problems of weak institutions that need to be rebuilt with all honesty and sincerity of purpose,” he said.
