GOC promises justice as soldiers stand trial for murder, others
A lieutenant and 17 other ranks were yesterday arraigned before a court martial for leaking official information to terrorists. .
The 18, who are all members of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Borno and the Special Task Force (STF) in Jos, were taken before the military court sitting at the 3 Armoured Division Headquaters, the Marxwel Khobe Cantonment, Rukuba, Jos the Plateau State capital.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Armoured Division, Major-General Ebiobowei Bonna Awala, inaugurated the court martial.
The accused were said to have been investigated for various offences ranging from communication with the enemy, cowardly behaviour, murder and manslaughter, among others. They were being tried by the 3 Armoured Division because the offences were committed within its area of operational responsibility.
It was learnt that some of the suspects may have been implicated in the invasion of Baga community in Borno State when some soldiers were reported to have committed some acts against the rule of engagement.
Chief of Army Staff Gen Azubuike Ihejirika recently lamented that some soldiers gave out information to terrorists, thereby compromising the nation’s security.
Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika on May 22 said soldiers, who leaked information to terrorists had been arrested and would face a military court.
He spoke at the opening ceremony of the Nigerian Army transformation and Innovation Centre on Personnel Management and Development at the Command Officers Mess, Abuja.
Information about the movement of troops to Mali for AFISMA operations was leaked to terrorists. They were ambushed and two soldiers were killed on the Okene-Lokoja road.
The Army Chief said some soldiers had been helping Boko Haram with intelligence and conspiring with the sect to frustrate military operations against terrorists in the North.
He warned that disloyal soldiers whose actions negatively affect the work done by the Army by leaking information via the Internet or to insurgents will be “disciplined severely”.
Plateau State is enmeshed in communal clashes, leading to the death of many people. Many of the times, terrorists or gunmen had been accused of wearing military uniform while attacking their victims.
The STF has been battling communal attacks on the Plateau.
Gen. Awala described the General Court Martial as one of those instruments conferred on him by the Armed Forces Act Chapter A 20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria to address problems of this nature.
He said “discipline is the foundation on which the military career rests”, adding that “discipline and loyalty are two essential requirements no officer or soldier who wants to succeed in professional soldiering can afford to lack.”
He said: “It is the duty of superiors to observe, correct and instantly deal with negligence or any misconduct on the part of subordinates. When there is any breach. It is expected that appropriate disciplinary measure must be taken by commanders to forestall future occurrences.
“This way, the Nigerian Army can continue to play its constitutional role and sustain its accolade as the pride of the nation.”
Gen. Awala, said he is not happy convening the court but said:
“It is with a heavy heart though, that I have to convene this General Court Martial, being the first within four months of my assumption of duty as the GOC of this Division. However, I must state that if this Division is witnessing this Court Martial, it is because I want to sustain a high level of professionalism required to confront the mounting security challenges in the Division’s Area of Responsibility.
“I, therefore, enjoin all parties to this Court Martial to discharge their duties expeditiously and with a degree of commitment that will ensure the accused persons know their fare in good time.”
He continued: “To be effective however, the legal system must be fair and just. In this regard permit me to once more quote a renowned Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Justice C. A. Oputa, when he said: “Justice is not a one way traffic. It is not Justice for the appellant only. Justice is not even only a two–way traffic. It is really a three–way traffic – Justice for the appellant accused of a heinous crime of murder, justice for the victim, the murdered man, the deceased, whose blood is crying to heaven for vengeance and finally justice for the society at large, the society whose social norms and values had been desecrated and broken by the criminal act complained of.”
The GOC implored the General Court Martial to ensure that no effort is spared to achieve the three–way traffic of the justice system for the accused, the Army and the state.
Said Gen. Awala: “At the point where a person is convicted of an offence, sentence ought to be passed. Such sentences must be humanely meted out. Punishment is among the means available for the maintenance of discipline in the Nigerian Army. As such, the kind and amount of punishment should be adequate enough to achieve its purpose and serve as deterrence to others.
“Due consideration should also be given to first–time offenders and those who plead guilty while bearing in mind the gravity of the offence. Justice must be seen to be done. With this in mind, let me urge the President and members of this court to uphold the tenets of fairness and impartiality in the proceedings of the court and the dispensation of justice.”
The President of the Court Martial, Col. Afolabi Olonisakin, who inaugurated the five–man panel, said the sitting would begin immediately.
Most of the accused, who appeared at the first sitting of the court, pleaded not guilty to all the charges read to them.
