Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the immediate reinstatement of 70 soldiers who were dismissed from the Nigerian Army but later granted presidential pardon, and directed the military authorities to pay their salaries and allowances from July 2022, when they were first pardoned. Justice Buba handed down the ruling on Monday, July 27, 2026, following a suit filed by the affected soldiers, who argued that their dismissal had been overturned by presidential pardon and that their continued exclusion from service was unlawful.
According to the judgment, the soldiers were initially dismissed from the Army but were granted pardon by the President in July 2022. Despite the pardon, the military authorities allegedly failed to reinstate them or pay their entitlements, prompting the legal action. The court held that the pardon effectively quashed their dismissal and restored their status as serving personnel, and that the Army's failure to comply amounted to a violation of their rights. Justice Buba declared that the soldiers are entitled to all salaries and allowances from the date of their pardon, and ordered the Army to pay the arrears within a specified timeframe.
The ruling has been hailed as a victory for the rule of law and a vindication of the soldiers, who had maintained their innocence and fought for years to clear their names. The judgment also serves as a rebuke to the military establishment for failing to implement a presidential directive, and underscores the judiciary's role in holding government institutions accountable to the law.
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