Nigeria, Nov. 15 -- Katsina Central Senator, Abdulaziz Yar'adua, has clarified that his proposed bill to repeal and re-enact the Armed Forces Act, 2004, does not seek to empower civil courts to try military officers in place of court-martials.

The bill passed second reading at the Senate on Thursday and 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.

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that the bill aimed to empower civil courts to handle trials of military officers for various offences, as against the current court-martial system.

However, in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES on Friday, Mr Yar'adua, a re...