Boko Haram: Army commences trial of Generals, others

After three postponements, the Nigerian Army
Monday commenced the court Martial of two
generals and 20 other officers who allegedly
deserted their duties in the ongoing war against
extremist sect, Boko Haram.
The court martial, which was held at the Officers
Mess, 9th Brigade Headquarters, Ikeja
Cantonment, was done amid tight security.
Reporters who arrived the venue upon getting
information about the trial were not allowed
anywhere close to the area as personnel of the
Operation MESA were stationed from the
entrance.
The trial commenced Monday morning and as at
the time of filing this report (4:30pm),
proceedings were still ongoing.
The officers include two Brigadier-Generals, J.O.
Komolafe and Ramsome-Kuti; 14 Colonels- A.
Laguda, V. Ebhaleme, V.O. Ita, I.B. Maina, I.A
Aboi, I.M Kabir, M.H. Abubakar, A. A. Egbejule,
N.N. Orok, C.A. Magaji, A.O. Agwu, A.J.S. Gulani,
O.O. Obolo and A.M. Adetuyi; one Major-M.M.
Idris; five Captains-M. Adamu, O. A. Adenaike, M.
Gidado, M.M. Clark and S. Raymond; as well as a
Second Lieutenant, S.O. Olowa.
They are the third batch of Army personnel who
have been fingered for alleged treasonable
offences (mutiny), with the other two batches
condemned to death by firing squad by an Abuja
Court Martial.
It was learnt that Femi Falana (SAN), Tayo
Oyetibo (SAN) and another senior lawyer were
among the defence team for the officers.
Falana who left in the morning after realising his
client Brigadier-Generals Ramsome-Kuti and
Komolafe were not brought before the panel
Monday, confirmed that the court Martial has
commenced.
He said that the military authority had assured
him that they would inform him when his client’s
case would come up.
Asked to comment on the charges against the
officers, Falana declined on the grounds that his
client’s trial has not commenced.
He said: “The military authority has told the world
that they have just taken delivery of military
equipment, I feel there is no need to put them on
trial that is why we congratulated them in the
successes so far recorded.
“This confirmed that as at the time they were
arrested there was no weapon to fight, but now
that they have weapons, they should release the
boys to go and join others to fight.”
This is the first time senior army officer would be
put on trial for such offences as mutiny in the
northeastern war against terrorists.
Army had in December condemned 54 soldiers
after finding them guilty on conspiracy to commit
mutiny and mutiny for disobeying direct order
from superior officers to go to the battle front.
The soldiers however said they only asked for
support equipment before embarking on the
operation.
Their conviction is currently on appeal by their
counsel Femi Falana.

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