Special forces mutinied in Ivory Coast’s coastal town of Adiake on Tuesday, firing their weapons into the air, a resident and a military source said.
The military source said the mutineers were seeking a similar pay-off to one agreed between soldiers and the government after a revolt in January.
Source: Reuters
Disgruntled soldiers in Ivory Coast reached an agreement with the government late on Friday resolving a dispute over bonus payments that had threatened to reignite a nationwide army mutiny, negotiators for the mutineers said.
There was no confirmation of the deal from the government, and it was not immediately evident that the terms had been accepted by the rank and file, who took to the streets in Bouake, the second largest city, and other locations on Friday.
Soldiers, most of them former rebel fighters, launched a revolt in Bouake a week ago that rapidly gained momentum in the world’s top cocoa grower until the government was forced to yield to the mutineers’ demands after two days.
But the soldiers said they had received none of the 12 million CFA francs ($19,278) in bonuses they said the government had promised to pay each of them under an initial deal to end the uprising struck last Saturday.
“We’ve reached an agreement. They will pay five million Monday and the rest each month,” Sergeant Mamadou Kone, one of the mutineers’ negotiators, told Reuters. “We haven’t finished up, but that’s the most important thing.”
The soldiers had appeared poised to relaunch their mutiny on Friday.
Renegade troops sealed off Bouake as evening fell, even as a government delegation headed by Defence Minister Alain-Richard Donwahi pursued talks with the mutiny’s leaders inside the city.
Gunfire meanwhile broke out at two strategic military camps in the commercial capital, Abidjan, and mutineers seized entrances to Korhogo, a city in the country’s north.
Ivory Coast has one of the world’s fastest growing economies but has struggled to resolve deeply entrenched problems left over from years of civil war and political turmoil.
The government has failed to bring significant reform to the army, which remains a patchwork of former rebel fighters and troops who stayed loyal to the government during the 2002-2011 crisis. Divisions and parallel chains of command persist.
Source: Channels TV
Femi Falana, human rights lawyer, has written President Muhammadu Buhari, urging him to pardon 70 soldiers convicted for mutiny.
The military authorities arrested them in 2014, for failing to confront Boko Haram insurgents.
They were sentenced to life imprisonment, but their jail sentence was commuted to 10 years under the current administration.
However, Falana is asking Buhari to let the soldiers off the hook.
“We are counsel to the 70 soldiers who are currently held in custody at the Ikoyi and Kirikiri Prisons in Lagos state,” the letter read.
“We have the instructions of our clients to write this letter of appeal to Your Excellency.
“Our clients were charged with mutiny before courts-martial for demanding for weapons to fight the well-equipped insurgents in the north east zone. In a bid to divert the attention of the public from the criminal diversion of the huge fund earmarked for procurement of arms and ammunition to fight the terrorists our clients were convicted and sentenced to death by the courts-martial which tried them in 2014.
“Although based on our appeal the authorities of the Nigerian Army have commuted the death sentences passed on the soldiers to 10 years imprisonment, we are compelled to urge Your Excellency to grant them pardon.”
Falana appealed to Buhari to consider the soldiers on the grounds that the money meant for procuring arms which the soldiers were supposed to used in fighting had been diverted.
He also argued that the armed forces act guaranteed them the right to lay complaint without being penalised.
“The courts-martial which tried our clients deliberately failed to take cognizance of section 179 of the Armed Forces Act which permits ‘a soldier, rating or aircraftman to make a complaint to his commanding office and that he shall not be penalised for having made a complaint,” he wrote.
“The Arms Procurement Panel set up by Your Excellency has confirmed that the huge fund earmarked for the purchase of arms and ammunition was criminally diverted by former services chiefs and other senior military officers.
“The indicted military officers are currently being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for unlawful enrichment and criminal diversion of public funds.
“In Oladele & Ors. v. Nigerian Army (2003) 36 WRN 48 the Appellants (23 soldiers) who were charged with mutiny and allied offences were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for protesting at the Cairo airport, Egypt over the non-payment of medical allowances. In setting aside the conviction and the sentences the Court of Appeal held inter alia.
“Since the demand of the convicted soldiers and others for weapons found justification in the criminal diversion of the huge fund provided for the purchase of arms and armament to fight the terrorists there was no legal and moral justification for the conviction and sentences imposed on them by the courts-martial.
“Since the demand for weapons to carry out counter-insurgency operations in the north east zone was legitimately made by our clients under the Armed Forces Act, we urge Your Excellency to grant them pardon pursuant to Section 175 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended.”
A human rights group, Beko Rights Klub, has called for immediate release and reinstatement of Brig.-Gen. Enitan Ransome-Kuti and other soldiers sentenced to various jail terms by a military tribunal for mutiny.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the group made the request during a protest to the Lagos State House of Assembly in Lagos on Wednesday.
The group, which chanted solidarity songs, blocked the entrance to the House until lawmakers persuaded them to be orderly.
The convener, Mr Debo Adeniran, said the protest was part of activities lined up to mark the 10th anniversary of the demise of renowned human rights activist, Dr Beko Ransome-Kuti.
Adeniran said recent revelations in arms deal in the country attested to the fact that Enitan was not guilty of any act of mutiny.
“The Beko Rights Klub is utilising this occasion of the commemoration of Beko’s passage to call on the Nigerian government to grant Brigadier-General Enitan Ransome Kuti, son of our late hero, national pardon.
“Following his court martial after the Baga massacre by Boko Haram insurgents in 2015, Enitan remains in imprison till date, even though history has absolved him”, said Adeniran.
Adeniran, who is also the Chairman, Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), said Enitan did not deserve any blame.
According to him, Enitan should be held shoulders high since his innocence has been proved by the ongoing Dasukigate.
“We are strongly convinced that the revelations reeled out from the arms procurement scandal and the Dasukigate confirm his innocence and patriotism.
“In fact, we believe, with those expositions, the actions of Enitan and others are justifiable, reasonable and dialectical”, he added.
The group urged the House to do all within its powers to work with the National Assembly in order to ensure the prompt release and reinstatement of Enitan and others by the federal government.
In his response, the Majority Leader of the House, Mr Sanai Agunbiade, said the legislators shared the same sentiments with the group based on justice, fairness and rule of law.
Agunbiade said “the cause you are fighting for is humanitarian and just.
“This is a cause we also believe in and which every Nigerian who believes in what is right also believes in, therefore, we can assure you that your petition will be thoroughly looked into.”
Agunbiade, therefore, said the House would do the needful in ensuring that the right thing was done in what the group was clamouring for.
(NAN)
Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to pardon all soldiers convicted by various courts martial for offences of mutiny allegedly committed while prosecuting the war against Boko Haram in the North East.
Falana, argued in his letter dated January 15, 2016 and addressed to President Buhari, that the conviction passed on the soldiers and the summary dismissal over 3,000 of others amounted to grave injustice since they were only punished for demanding weapons to fight the terrorists.
The letter is titled, ‘Request for presidential pardon for all convicted members of the armed forces pursuant to section 175 of the Nigerian Constitution’.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who urged the President to exercise his prerogative of mercy in favour of the soldiers ?under section 175 of the Constitution, reminded the President of recent revelation of how funds meant for purchase of arms were allegedly diverted by the Office of the National Security Adviser under Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.).
Credit: Punch
The Nigerian Army has ordered a review of the courts-martial of more than 600 soldiers and officers condemned to death for mutiny and deserting the battle against Boko Haram in the North East.
AP reports that a statement released signed by army administrator, Maj. Gen. A. B. Abubakar yesterday August 2nd, states that all the accused and condemned soldiers will appear before a committee that will sit and review their cases in Kaduna state from Aug. 7 to Aug. 24.
The soldiers had at different times revolted against their commanders over lack of weapons to fight Boko Haram members. Seems like former Chief of Defense Staff Alex Badeh now agrees with them.
About 100 more soldiers are to be court-martialled by the Nigerian military for a number of offences relating to the on-going fight against Boko Haram terrorists.
An online journal, Premium Times reported that its sources disclosed that 118 soldiers have been transported from Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, to face charges in Abuja, a week after 54 soldiers were sentenced to death for refusing to fight Boko Haram.
It is not clear when the troops will be arraigned before the court martial, the sources said. Unlike their colleagues who were convicted last Wednesday, the soldiers awaiting trial are not accused of mutiny. Army spokesperson, Olajide Laleye, said he was unaware of the development.
Sources also said that the soldiers are accused of relatively minor charges including loss or misplacement of rifles during operations against Boko Haram.
The allegations follow repeated reports of troops fleeing Boko Haram fighters and abandoning their weapons for the militants in Borno and Adamawa States.
Credit: Vanguard Nigeria
This post was seen on twitter, narrating the experience of a mutinied Nigerian soldier. Here is what he posted…
Yesterday, the General Court-Martial sitting in Abuja which tried another batch of 59 soldiers for conspiracy to mutiny and mutiny convicted 54 of the accused persons and sentenced them to death while 5 were discharged and acquitted. The acquittal was designed to give the false impression that the dubious verdict was fair and just. The soldiers were in the SF 111 Battalion which has 174 instead of 750 soldiers. The soldiers in the Battalion were neither equipped nor motivated. They are young men whose ages range between 21 and 25. Most of them joined the army in 2012.
With little or no training whatsoever they were deployed to fight the dreaded Boko Haram sect. The funds allocated for payment of the salaries and allowances of the soldiers and for purchase of arms and ammunition are usually diverted and cornered by corrupt military officers. Instead of bringing such unpatriotic officers to book the military authorities have engaged in the diversionary tactics of wasting the lives of innocent soldiers by sentencing them to death without any legal justification.
On July 9, 2014 the Boko Haram sect launched a ferocious attack on the Battalion. As the soldiers were ill-equipped and ill-motivated the well armed terrorists killed 3 officers and 23 soldiers and inflicted serious injuries on 82 others. While sympathizing with the bereaved soldiers the army authorities assured them that adequate weapons would be provided to match the sophisticated weapons of the Boko Haram sect. But without the provision of the said weapons the soldiers were ordered on August 4, 2014 to recapture Delwa, Balubulin and Damboa in Borno State from the Boko Haram terrorists. The soldiers demanded for weapons so as not to lose more officers and men in the circumstance. A few soldiers who embarked on the suicidal mission together with the Commanding Officer were ambushed by the Boko Haram troops.
When some weapons were made available on August 8, 2014, the soldiers moved to the battlefront, dislodged the satanic Boko Haram sect and liberated their captured colleagues and officers. They were commended for their bravery and sacrifice. But for some inexplicable reasons, the army authorities ordered that the soldiers be charged with mutiny for allegedly exposing the armed forces to embarrassment by asking for weapons! Thus, 60 soldiers were charged before the court-martial led by Brigadier-General M. Yusuf. The charge was however withdrawn against one of them on health ground. When the trial commenced against the remaining 59 the court-martial allowed defense correspondents and reporters to cover the proceedings. But the revealing testimonies of the prosecution witnesses embarrassed the army authorities.
In particular, the defence pointed out that by not providing the soldiers with adequate weapons the Federal Government had violated Section 217 (2) (b) of the Constitution which provides that the Federation shall, subject to an Act of the National Assembly made in that behalf, equip and maintain the armed forces as may be considered adequate and effective for the purpose of maintaining its territorial integrity and securing its borders from violation on land, sea or air.
It is public knowledge that it was when the trial of the soldiers was in progress that the President and Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, sought and obtained the approval of the National Assembly for a loan of USD$1 billion to purchase equipment for the prosecution of the war on terror. Up till now, the loan has not been utilized for the purchase of weapons!
It was on the basis of such revelation that the court-martial resorted to sitting in camera and prohibited the media from further reporting the proceedings. In the judgment delivered yesterday the court-martial refused to consider the evidence led in court and convicted 54 of the soldiers for having the temerity to ask for weapons to carry out the task of defending the territorial integrity of the nation. Since the soldiers were justified in refusing to commit suicide the verdict which is characterized by gross miscarriage of justice will not stand. Apart from the fact that the Prosecution did not lead any scintilla of evidence to prove the 2-count charge of conspiracy and mutiny against any of the convicts the Court-martial did not consider the defence of the soldiers in any material particular.
Convinced that soldiers who made a legitimate demand for equipment to fight the insurgents cannot, by any stretch of imagination, be properly convicted for mutiny we shall take all necessary legal measures to prevent the army authorities from giving effect to the genocidal verdict of the court-martial. We submit that the oath of allegiance taken by the accused soldiers is not a license to commit suicide. It is a solemn undertaking to defend the nation based on the expectation that the Federal Government would have complied with Section 217 of the Constitution on the mandatory requirement to equip the armed forces adequately. It is important to state that when equipment was made available on 18 August 2014, the accused soldiers fought gallantly.
Femi Falana SAN.
Credit: Sahara Reporters
54 soldiers including two Corporals, nine Lance Corporals and 49 Private soldiers attached to the 7 Division Nigerian Army in Maiduguri Borno state have been sentenced to death by firing squad for mutiny by a court marshal that sat in Abuja today Wednesday December 17th. The soldiers were convicted on a a two-count charge of criminal conspiracy to commit mutiny.
According to the charge sheet, the soldiers conspired to commit mutiny against their superior at the 7 Division on August 4 at the Mulai Primary School camp, opposite AIT Maiduguri, Borno state.
Captain J.E. Nwosu, an army Captain who is the prosecutor in the case, told the marshal panel that the accused soldiers had on August 4, in Maiduguri, refused to join the 111 Special Forces Battalion troops, commanded by Timothy Opurum, a Lieutenant Colonel for an operation which was meant to recapture Delwa, Bulabulin and Damboa in Borno State from members of Boko Haram.
Captain J.E Nwosu in his submission said the offence is punishable under Section 52(1) (a) of the Armed Forces Act Cap A20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The commander of the 111 Special Forces, Lt.-Col. Opurum, while testifying before the panel as a witness, said in the recapture operation, only 4 officers and 29 soldiers participated in that particular operation with other soldiers hesitant to participate.
This brings to 66 the number of soldiers sentenced to death for mutiny. Their sentencing however is to be ratified by senior military authorities
Credit: naijaloaded
Army authorities again arraigned five more soldiers before a General Court Martial for mutiny at the Abacha Barracks in Abuja on Tuesday.
The soldiers were said to have pleaded not guilty to the two counts of mutiny and conspiracy to commit mutiny.
The accused are Lance Corporals Bankole Taiwo, Ayodele Olawale, Sule Ochehepo, Isaiah Olofu and Adebayo Gbenga.
They all belong to the 81 Battalion of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army.
They were accused of conspiring to incite other personnel of 81 Battalion to commit mutiny at Gubio Base Camp, Maiduguri, on September 13 and 14, 2014.
They were also said to have, on the same days and location, fired sporadically, abandoned their weapons and made instigating comments and acted in ways intended to incite soldiers of 81 Battalion to mutiny.
Read more at http://www.punchng.com/news/military-arraigns-five-more-soldiers-for-mutiny/
The military authorities at the Army Headquarters Garrison, Mogadishu Cantonment Abuja today barred journalists from covering on going trial of 59 soldiers facing mutiny charges.
The spokesman of the Magadishu Cantonment Colonel Yusuf Aliyu sited security concerns involving information getting into the public that may jeopardize on going security operation.
He noted that the testimony of prosecution witnesses may undermine national security.
The European Union (EU), in a statement issued on Thursday, has rejected the death sentence handed to 12 Nigerian soldiers by the General Court Martial in Nigeria for alleged mutiny.
The union, headed by Secretary-General, Mr. Thorbjørn Jagland, argued that execution had stopped in that region of the world for close to two decades
The statement says, “On the European and World Day against the Death Penalty, the European Union and the Council of Europe reaffirm their strong and absolute opposition to capital punishment in all cases and under all circumstances, and their commitment to its worldwide abolition.We are deeply concerned about setbacks in some countries, such as recent mass trials leading to a vast number of death sentences. No execution has taken place in our member states in the last 17 years. The European Union and the Council of Europe welcome the fact that all Member States of the European Union have now ratified both Protocols 6 and 13 to the European Convention on Human Rights, and urge all other European States that have not yet done so to sign and ratify these instruments which aim at the abolition of the death penalty.”
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Defence, George Sekibo, said on Tuesday after a closed-door meeting with the nation’s service chiefs in Abuja, that the 12 soldiers sentenced to death for mutiny deserve to die and that they would not plead with the Nigerian Army to spare them.
After a meeting of over 3 hours with the Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh, Sekibo told reporters that, they are not under pressure because the Armed Forces is established by an Act of the National Assembly.
He added that, “The Act spelt out categorically the conduct of soldiers and the way they are to behave wherever they are. If you join the military that Act is to guide you and your conduct. If you go contrary to any of the prescribed sections of the Act the punishment prescribed for the Act you violated will come on you. So the military did not just wake up one day and say that they are going to kill Mr A or Mr B. They went through the necessary processes and they found them guilty”.
He however added that, “those found guilty also have a way out. They can go on appeal and if the appeal finds them not guilty that will be it. But for what the military has done, they have done the best thing because you must instill discipline in the Armed Forces. If you don’t do so one day all of us here will be sacked and you will not hear of this place again.”
Some Nigerian soldiers who have been accused of revolting orders to travel on a frequently attacked by Boko Haram, have been sentenced to death. This decision was announced early Tuesday by Brigadier General Chukwuemeka Okonkwo, 12 soldiers were found guilty and five others won acquittal.
The sentence, to be carried out by the firing squad, was delivered for both mutiny and the servicemen’s attempted murder of their commanding officer. All the defendants denied the charges.
A convoy of the soldiers had earlier been ordered to drive at night on a road from the northeastern town of Chibok, which is frequently attacked by militants. The soldiers initially refused, but eventually went along and were ambushed on May 13 by militants, an unknown number of them getting killed. Following the incident, the soldiers mutinied.
