The Army's Director of Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, stated that Adamu, personnel of the Amphibious Training School attached to 63 Brigade, was found preaching in uniform on a social media platform, violating the Armed Forces of Nigeria's extant Social Media policy.
As a result, he was summoned for interrogation by the relevant authorities.
However, Adamu absconded for approximately six and a half months, leading to his declaration as Absence Without Official Leave (AWOL) in accordance with Section 58 (a) (b) Obstruction of Provost Officers and Section 59 (a) (b) Absence Without Leave.
The Army clarified that once personnel remains absent from their unit for seven days without justification, they are declared AWOL, resulting in the freezing of their salary account until their return to the unit for arraignment and sanctioning.
The soldier was taken into custody for investigation, following the statutory provisions outlined in the Armed Forces Act CAP 20.
The Army emphasised its adherence to ethics, traditions, and military laws, which dictate the conduct of its personnel. Violation of these principles and statutory stipulations results in sanctions, regardless of the offender's faith.
The denial comes amidst concerns over the freedom of religion and belief within the Nigerian military, with the Army emphasising its commitment to upholding the rule of law and maintaining discipline among its ranks.