SAN FRANCISCO, August 10, (THEWILL) – The Nigerian Army on Wednesday constituted a General Court Martial, GCM, for offenders in the counter-insurgency warfare in the Northeast.
Twenty soldiers (four officers and sixteen other ranks) were bought before the newly inaugurated court for various offenses including murder and sale of fire arms in the ongoing war against insurgency in the Northeast.
Inaugurating the GCM with Brig. Gen. Olusegun Adeniyi as its president in Maiduguri, the acting General Officer Commanding, GOC, the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Brig. Gen. Victor Ezugwu said it was established to try offenses committed by personnel within the Operation Lafiya Dole theatre of operation.
He said it is public knowledge that discipline is the bedrock of the military profession and “to have a disciplined body of officers and men, there must be justice because it is when there is justice that discipline can be achieved.”
He added that: “Justice implies that infractions of the law must be promptly reported, investigated and the accused persons prosecuted within a reasonable time through the laid down rules, regulations and procedures.
Ezugwu said the court martial was convened to try a total of four officers and 16 other ranks of the Nigerian Army who have committed various offences within the Theatre of Operation Lafiya Dole, noting that “the court martial is to achieve timely and quick dispensation of Justice within the framework provided in relevant statute books.
“Therefore, it 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 added.
The GOC asked the president and members of the GCM to dispense the assignment in accordance with the appropriate extant laws and ensure that their opinions and decision on all the cases brought before them is not in any way beclouded by bias, external pressure or by extraneous factors.
Ezugwu tasked that the outcome of the court martial must be based on careful appreciation of the whole facts of each case and evidence placed before them in the course of the trial of the accused persons.
He also asked them to ensure that the judgement passed on the accused persons stand the test of appellate court, public opinion and above all, “that of the Almighty Creator”.
Speaking to journalists after the inauguration, Ezugwu disclosed that some of the accused were involved in criminal activities which include murder, crimes against civilians, and illegal sales of firearms.
He said over a hundred soldiers have been tried and punished at the Brigade level over acts of indiscipline and unprofessionalism.
The GOC disclosed that there are little or non-issue with indiscipline in the theatre as 15,000 soldiers have been awarded medals of excellence in the theatre of operation for patriotism and gallantry.
Speaking during the inaugural sitting, the president of the court, Brig. Gen. Adeniyi said there was no need for the accused persons to entertain any fear as they would be given fair hearing.
He said: “I must assure all especially the accused that they have nothing to fear, we are going to be fair to all of them. 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.”
He however said: “We are not going to allow for any unnecessary delay, justice delayed, they say, is justice denied”.
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