Section 272: Application of the Act to civilians

(1) Subject to the modifications specified in subsection (2) of this section, where a unit is on active service and a person is employed in the service of that unit or any part thereof or accompanies the unit or part thereof and is not otherwise subject to service law, Part XII of this Act shall apply to the person so employed or accompanying the unit as it applies to members of the Armed Forces.
(2) The modifications referred to in subsection (1) of this section are as follows-
(a) the punishments which may be awarded by a court-martial shall include a fine but shall not include any other punishment less than imprisonment;
(b) the punishment which may be awarded where a charge is dealt with summarily shall, in the case of an offence, be a fine not exceeding five hundred naira, but no other punishment;
(c)
for subsections (2) to (5) inclusive of section 121 of this Act, there shall be substituted the following provisions, that is-
"(2) The person may be arrested by a provost officer or by a warrant or petty officer legally exercising authority under a provost officer or on his behalf, or by order of an officer."
(d) the provisions of this Act relating to the investigation of and summary dealing with offences shall, except as otherwise expressly provided, apply as they apply to soldiers, ratings and aircraftmen;
(e) for the purposes of the provisions of this Act relating to the investigation of offences, the commanding officer shall be such officer as may be appointed by an officer authorised to convene a court-martial;
(f) for references in sections 168 and 169 of this Act to being, continuing or ceasing to be subject to this Act, there shall be substituted references to being, continuing to be or ceasing to be in such circumstances that Part XII applies, and subsection (3) of section 168 of this Act shall not apply.
(3) A fine awarded by virtue of this section, whether by a court-martial or the commanding officer, shall be recoverable as a debt due to the Federal Government.