Nigeria, Nov. 14 -- A bill seeking to empower civil courts to handle trials of military officers for offences and convictions, rather than the current court-martial system, has passed second reading in the Senate.

The Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, who presided over the plenary, announced the passage during Wednesday's plenary after a majority of senators supported it through a voice vote.

Following its passage, the bill was referred to the Senate Committees on Defence, Army, Air Force, and Navy for further deliberation and a public hearing.

The committees were directed to report back within four weeks.

The bill, sponsored by Abdulaziz Yar'adua (APC, Katsina Central), seeks to modernise Nigeria's military legal framework by re...