Court Orders Nigerian Army to Reinstate 70 Soldiers

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), Lagos Division, ruled on July 20, 2026, that the Nigerian Army must reinstate 70 personnel convicted by courts-martial in 2014 and pay their salaries from July 18, 2022. The soldiers were granted an unconditional presidential pardon by former President Muhammadu Buhari, which the court determined extinguished the legal consequences of their convictions and dismissals.

The suit, marked NICN/LA/54/2023, was filed against the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Chief of Army Staff after the military failed to act on their reinstatement request following the pardon. The claimants, represented by Falana & Falana Chambers, argued that the pardon nullified their convictions and dismissals.

The Attorney-General's representative contended that while a presidential pardon forgives offenses, it does not erase the historical fact of conviction or guarantee reinstatement. The soldiers had been convicted on charges including conspiracy and mutiny, initially sentenced to death, but later had their sentences commuted to 10 years.