The Nigerian Army has established a General Court Martial (GCM) for the trial of five officers and 20 soldiers for offences ranging from murder, defilement, manslaughter, extortion and assault on civilians in Enugu State.

The personnel to be tried are within the jurisdiction of the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army in Enugu.

While inaugurating the court martial on Tuesday in Enugu, President of the GCM, Brig.-Gen. Buhari Sadisu, said that the court was convened by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division, Maj.-Gen. Oluyemi Olatoye.

Sadisu explained that court martial was one of the instruments used in the Armed Forces to maintain discipline.

He said, “In Court Martial, military personnel alleged to have committed offences known to laws applicable to them are tried and if found guilty, punished in accordance to the laws criminalising such offences.

“However, where the prosecution failed to establish the allegations against them, the court will discharge and acquit the accused personnel.

He promised that the court martial would be guided by the principles of natural justice and fair hearing.

“It will also be guided by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and other extant laws and procedures related to the trial.”

The president said that the Court Martial would be free from any external influence and would afford the accused personnel adequate time and facility to defend themselves.

According to him, the court martial is fully aware of the cardinal principle of our criminal judicial system that an accused person is presumed innocent until the contrary is proven.

“Under our criminal justice system, it is better for 99 guilty persons to be set free than for one innocent person to be convicted.

Sadisu assured them that the Court Martial would strive to do justice in their cases by ensuring that evidence presented before the court were judiciously and fairly evaluated.

“This is to avoid a situation where an innocent person is made to suffer unjustly,” he said.

Some regular court lawyers within Enugu also appeared for some of the accused personnel.

(NAN)

Gunmen have abducted a Nigerian Army personnel, identified as Abdulfatai Odutola.

Military source said that Odutola, a Senior Non Commissioned Officer (SNCO) was abducted last Saturday along Abuja/Jos highway.

He was said to be on transit to Yola, Adamawa State Capital.

The source revealed that the kidnappers are asking for N20million ransom for the release of the Master Warrant Officer.

A military internal memo also confirmed the incident.

It read, “PLS INFORMATION REACHING ME NOW FROM THIS SLDR WHISKY THAT MWO ABDULFATAI ODUTOLA( CC 23 BDE YOLA ) WAS KIDNAPPED YESTERDAY ALONG ABUJA -JOS ROAD, WHILE RETURNING BACK TO YOLA. HE LEFT ILORIN ON FRIDAY 14th OF FEB 2025 AND SLEPT AT ABUJA. HE CONTINUE HIS MOVEMENT FROM ABUJA YESTERDAY B4 THE INCIDENT HAPPENED TO HIM.

“CURRENTLY THEY ARE DEMANDING FOR N20,000,0000 FOR HIS RELEASE. Pse appropriate authority should help the sldr.”

It was reported on Saturday also that the Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists killed three army personnel following an attack on a military base in Borno State.

It was gathered that the terrorists for several hours last Sunday attacked the military facility in Isige town, Gwoza Local Government Area of the state.

A source had said that the terror group razed many buildings and took away two gun trucks during the attack.

It was withholding the names of the army personnel killed as their families are yet to be informed.

“There was an attack recently in Borno, one Staff Sergeant with two private soldiers were killed. However, the army authorities are silent over the attack which happened at a base in Isige Town, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.

“They burnt one military vehicle while they went away with two gun trucks, later reforcement came from nearby unit but then the Boko Haram fighters have left.”

This is coming a few weeks after the terror group launched a brutal attack on the military’s Forward Operating Base in the Damboa Local Government Area of same Borno State, killing a yet-to-be confirmed number of soldiers, with many still missing.

“25 Taskforce Bde was attacked during the weekend with so many casualties, so far we have recovered over seven bodies,” a source said.

A civilian in Lagos was arrested for impersonatiπg a military officer after organizing a lavish wedding, complete with a sword crossing ceremony. The elaborate event was attended by genuine military personnel, including an army band.

However, suspicious arose when an army sergeaπt served as the best man, prompting an investigation that exposed the fake Colonel’s true identity.

Consequently, all participants in the sword crossing ceremony, including the groom, were taken into custody.