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Armed Forces Act

Chapter A20

(Decree No 105 of 1993)

Laws of the Federation of Nigeria

 

 

Arrangement of Sections

 

 

Part 1

Establishment and Composition of the Armed Forces

 

1.

Establishment and functions of the Armed Forces.

2.

Establishment and functions of the Armed Forces.

3.

Pay regulations, duties, recall, etc., of the Armed Forces Reserve.

 

 

 

Part II

Establishment of Armed Forces Council

 

4.

Establishment of Armed Forces Council

 

 

5.

Functions of the Forces Council

6.

Powers of the Forces Council.

 

 

Part III

Command and operational use

 

 

7.

Day-to-day command of the Armed Forces.

8.

Operational use of the Armed Forces.

 

 

 

 

Part IV

Nigerian Army Council

 

9.

Establishment and composition of the Nigerian Army Council.

10

Functions of the Army Council.

11

Powers of the Army Council.

 

 

Part V

Nigerian Navy Board

 

12.

Establishment of the Nigerian Navy Board.

13.

Membership of the Board

14.

Powers of the Board.            

 

 

 

 

Part VI

Nigerian Air Council

 

 

15.

Establishment of the Air Council.

 

16.

Membership of the Air Council.

17.

Powers of the Air Council.

 

 

Part VII

Administration, Government and Command

 

18.

Appointment of Service Chiefs, etc.    

 

19.

Powers of command of members of co-operating services.         

 

20.

Attachment of members of other services.            

21.

Attachment of personnel of foreign armed forces, powers of command, etc.

22.

Regulations as to command

 

 

 

 

 

 

Part VIII

Officers

 

23.

Appointment of officers.

24.

Publication of promotion, etc., of officers

25.

Recall of officers from retirement

26.

Regulations as to officers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Part IX

Enlistment and Terms and Conditions of Service

 

27.

Recruiting officers.   

 

28.

Enlistment.

29

Terms of enlistment.

 

30.

Re-engagement and continuance in service.         

31.

Prolongation of service.

 

 

 

 

 

Part X

Discharge and Transfer to the Reserve

 

32.

Discharge.      

33.

Transfer to the Reserve.

34.

Right of warrant officer, chief petty officer to be discharged on reduction to ranks or rating.

35.

Power to discharge

36.

Right of enlisted person to purchase discharge

 

 

 

  

 

Part XI

Miscellaneous and Supplementary Provisions relating to Discharge, etc.

 

 

37.

Rules for reckoning service.

38.

Validity of attestation and enlistment.

39.

Fraudulent, irregular enlistment, etc.     

40.

Pensions provisions. 

41.

Provisions as to death or injury.

42.

Service outside Nigeria.

43.

Postponement of discharge or transfer pending proceedings for offences, etc.

44.

Interpretation of, and  power to make certain regulations for this Part.

 

 

            

 

 

Part XII

Offences

 

Misconduct in Action

 

45.

Aiding the enemy.    

46.

Communication with the enemy.           

47.

Cowardly behaviour.

48.

Offences against morale.

49.

Becoming a prisoner of war through disobedience or wilful neglect and failure to rejoin Armed Forces.           

 

50

Offences by or in relation to sentries, watch, etc

51.

Looting.

 

 

 

 

Mutiny

 

52.

Mutiny.

53.

Failure to suppress mutiny.

 

 

 

 

Insubordination

 

54.

Insubordinate behaviour.

55.

Fighting, quarrelling and disorderly behaviour

56.

Disobedience to particular orders

57.

Disobedience to standing orders.

58.

Obstruction of provost officers

 

 

 

 

 

Absence from Duty, etc.

 

59.

Absence without leave

60.

Desertion.

61.

Assisting and concealing desertion and absence without leave

62.

Failure to perform military duties. 

 

 

 

 

            

 

Malingering and Drunkenness

 

63.

Malingering.  

 

64.

Drunkenness.

65.

Drugs: wrongful use, possession, etc., of controlled substances.    

 

 

 

Offences relating to Property

 

66.

Offences in relation to public and service property.

67.

Offences in relation to property of members of Armed Forces.            

68.

Miscellaneous offences relating to property.   

 

 

 

 

Navigation and Flying Offences

 

69.

Loss or hazarding vehicle, ship or aircraft.          

70.

Dangerous flying, etc.           

 

71

Low flying.

 

72.

Annoyance by navigation or flying.

 

 

 

 

 

Other Offences in respect of Ships and Aircraft, etc.

 

73.

Inaccurate certification of ships, aircraft, parachutes, etc.  

74.

Improper carriage of persons and goods.

 

 

 

 

Prize Offences

 

75.

Prize offences by commanding officers

76.

Other prize offences

 

 

 

 

Sexual Offences

 

77.

Rape and carnal knowledge.

 

78.

Defilement.   

79.

Sexual relation with service personnel’s spouse.

80.

Fraternisation.

81.

Sodomy.

 

 

 

 

 

Offences relating to Billeting and Requisitioning of Vehicles

 

82.

Billeting offences.

83.

Offences in relation to requisitioning of vehicles.

 

 

 

 

Offences relating to and by Persons in Custody

 

84.

Irregular arrest and confinement.

85.

Permitting escape and unlawful release of prisoner.   

 

86

Resistance to arrest.

 

87.

Escape from confinement or custody.

 

 

 

 

 

Miscellaneous Offences

 

88.

Injurious disclosures.            

 

89.

Making of false statement on enlistment.

90.

Making of false documents.

91

Scandalous conduct of officer.

92.

Ill-treatment of officer, soldier, rating or aircraftman of inferior rank.

93.

Disgraceful conduct.

94.

False accusation.

95.

Attempts to commit offences.            

 

96.

Examination malpractices

97.

Impersonation.

98.

Aiding and abetting service offence.         

 

99.

Obstruction of police officer arresting service person.

 

 

 

 

Offences in relation to Court-Martial

 

100.

Offences in relation to court-martial.          

 

101

False evidence.          

 

102.

Court-martial records: destruction, falsifying, removing, etc.

            

 

 

 

Conduct to Prejudice of Service Discipline

 

103.

Conduct to the prejudice of service discipline.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Civil Offences

 

104.

Assault.          

105.

Manslaughter.

106.

Murder.          

 

107.

Robbery.

108.

Extortion.

109.

Burglary.

110.

House-breaking.       

111

Arson.

112.

Forgery.

113.

Cheating.

114.

Other civil offences

 

 

                        

 

 

 

Part XIII

Punishment

 

Summary Trial

 

115.

Officers.

116.

Warrant or petty officer, non-commissioned officers, soldiers, ratings or aircraftmen.

117.

Right of election of officers, warrant and petty officers to be tried by court-martial.

 

 

 

Courts-Martial

 

118.

Punishment of officers.

119.

Punishment of soldiers, ratings and aircraftmen.

120.

Field punishment.

 

 

 

Part XIV

Trial Procedure

 

Arrest

 

121.

Power to arrest offenders

122.