Army arraigns 60 soldiers for mutiny Wednesday

The authorities of the Nigerian Army are to arraign 60 out of the 97 personnel of the Nigerian Army facing the General Military Court Martial at the Mogadishu Cantonment, Abuja on Wednesday.

The General Court Martial, which has Brig. Gen. Musa Yusuf as the President, was inaugurated on the orders of the Garrison Commander, Brig. Gen. B. T. Ndiomu, on October 2, 2014.

However, the court did not try any of the cases after the inauguration, as it adjourned to October 15 for proceedings to commence. Investigation revealed that none of the 15 officers of the Nigerian Army brought before the Court Martial would be tried for mutiny when the court commences sitting on Wednesday. Coninue after the cut....



It was further gathered that while 60 of the soldiers were being charged for mutiny, 22 others would be facing trial for other acts of misdemeanor in the ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the North-East.

A source, who confided in our correspondent, said on Monday that the GCM would commence effective sitting with the cases of the 60 soldiers being tried for mutiny.

It was stated that the military authorities planned to give immediate treatment to all munity cases before going into other charges that were considered not as grave.

The source said, “The General Court Martial would commence with the trial of 60 soldiers for mutiny on Wednesday. None of the 15 officers, who are facing the court martial, is being charged for mutiny; they are facing other charges that have to do with operation.

“Also, soldiers who are not going to be tried for mutiny would not be brought to the court on Wednesday. I think, the CGM wants to dispose of cases that have to do with mutiny before moving to other cases that are less grave.”

When contacted, Mr. Femi Falana, (SAN), whose law firm is handling the cases of 68 out of 97 army personnel facing the court martial, said that the matter would be heard on Wednesday.