20 Soldiers face court martial over murder, sale of firearms

About 20 soldiers on different ranks are to be tried for different offences ranging from murder to sale öf firearms in counter insurgency warfare in the Northeast.

The court martial was inaugurated by the General Officer Commanding, the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Brig. Gen. Victor Ezugwu.

Ezugwu also disclosed that the offences were committed within the Theatre of Operation Lafiya Dole, adding 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.”

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The GOC also mandated members of the court martial to ensure that they 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.

In his response, the president of the court, Brig. Gen. Adeniyi, said the accused soldiers would be given fair hearing.

He said: “I must assured all especially the accused that they have nothing to fear, we are going to be fair to all of them and be guided by the constitution and all other military laws. We would be fair and just. There are higher courts were the judgement here can be appealed. You have the right for legal representation.

“We are not going to allow for any unnecessary delay, justice delayed they say is justice denied,” he stated.

By Timothy Enietan-Matthews

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