AFTER three postponements, the Army has started the court martial of two generals and 20 other officers who allegedly refused to fight Boko Haram.
Security was tight yesterday at the Officers Mess, 9th Brigade Headquarters, Ikeja Cantonment, venue of the court martial.
Reporters, who stormed the venue upon getting information about the trial, were not allowed anywhere close to the area.
The trial started in the morning and as at the time of filing this report (4:30p.m.), 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 officers who have been accused of alleged treasonable offences (mutiny).
The other two batches were 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 clients, Brigadier-Generals Ramsome-Kuti and Komolafe, were not brought before the panel yesterday, confirmed the court martial has started.
He said the military authority had assured him that they would inform him when his clients’ 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.”
Yesterday’s court martial was the first time senior army officer would be put on trial for such offences as mutiny in the war against terrorists in Northeast.
Army had in December condemned 54 soldiers after finding them guilty for 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, Falana.
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