Nigerian Army Court Martials 20 Soldier

The Nigerian Army on Wednesday constituted a General Court Martial to try 20 soldiers of different ranks for offences ranging from murder to sales of firearms in counter insurgency warfare in the Northeast.

The acting General Officer Commanding, the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Brig. Gen. Victor Ezugwu, who inaugurated the GMC said the offences were committed within the Theatre of Operation Lafiya Dole.

Ezugwu said that some of the accused were involved in criminal activities which include murder, crimes against civilians, and illegal sales of firearms.

He said, “The court martial is to achieve timely and quick dispensation of Justice within the framework provided in relevant statute books.

“Therefore, it is important that both the Prosecution and the Accused Persons or their counsels are mindful of this fact and strive to shun all forms of antics such as request for frivolous adjournments which could lead to delays in the trial processes.

“It is often said in the legal parlance that, justice delayed is justice denied.”

He asked the president and members of the GCM to dispense the assignment in accordance with the appropriate extant laws and ensure that their decisions on all the cases before them was not clouded by bias.

The GOC said over a hundred soldiers have been tried and punished at the Brigade level over acts of indiscipline and unprofessionalism.

The president of the court, Brig. Gen. Adeniyi said the accused would be given fair hearing.

Read More:

http://punchng.com/nigerian-army-courtmartials-20-soldiers/

Nigerian Military Court-Martials General Blamed For Loss Of Baga To Boko Haram

The Nigerian military on Monday commenced the court martial of a Brigadier General, Enitan Ransome-Kuti, and four other senior officers, blamed for the loss of Baga in Borno State, to Boko Haram insurgents in January.

Mr. Ransome-Kuti, his Chief of Staff, Lieutenant Colonel G.A. Suru, and some other senior officers, were arrested for failing to repel Boko Haram attack on the headquarters of the Multinational Joint Task Force [MNJTF] in Baga.

Also arrested were the Commanding Officers of the 134 and 174 Battalions — Lieutenant Colonel Haruna and Major Aliyu. The two battalions are under the MNJTF.

Mr. Ransome-Kuti was the commander of the multinational force during the attack.

The commanders were detained shortly after they arrived Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, from Monguno, where they took refuge with troops after being dislodged from Baga.

Military sources told PREMIUM TIMES that authorities were especially angry with Mr. Ransome-Kuti for his inability to lead his troop to counter the onslaught in Baga, despite the high calibre weapons and ammunition available to his unit.

After their arrests, the senior officers were held at the officers’ mess of the 21 Armoured Brigade, and were asked to account for the weapons lost to the insurgents.

At the trial which took place at the Defence Headquarters garrison in Abuja, on Monday, the officers were represented by counsels from the Femi Falana chambers.

Read More: premiumtimesng