A Nigerian court has ordered the reinstatement of 70 soldiers who were previously dismissed but later granted a presidential pardon, directing the Nigerian Army to restore them to service and pay all outstanding salaries dating back to July 2022.
The ruling, delivered on Monday, held that despite the presidential pardon, the affected soldiers had not been reinstated or paid their entitlements, a situation the court found unjustifiable.
The court ordered the Nigerian Army to immediately reinstate the soldiers to their respective positions and settle all salary arrears accumulated from July 2022 until the date of compliance with the judgment.
The case stems from the prolonged delay in implementing the presidential pardon granted to the soldiers, many of whom argued that they had continued to suffer financial hardship despite being officially cleared.
The judgment is expected to have significant implications for the affected personnel, who have spent years seeking the enforcement of the pardon and the restoration of their careers.
The Nigerian Army is yet to publicly respond to the court’s decision.
