The General Court Martial sitting at the
Army Headquarters Garrison in Abuja Wednesday
sentenced 54 soldiers to death after finding them
guilty of mutiny. 59 soldiers were on trial on a
two-count charge of criminal conspiracy to commit
mutiny and mutiny.
Four of them were however acquitted.
While the judgment was going on, stern looking
soldiers posted at the entry gate into the
Mogadishu Barracks, turned back journalists saying
they had instructions not to allow the media into
the barracks.
An officer who was at the Court Martial however
confirmed that 54 of the 59 soldiers were
sentenced to death. The 59 soldiers who were
serving in the epicentre of the Boko Haram
insurgency in Borno state, allegedly refused lawful
orders by their commander to proceed on a
mission to clear out terrorists and secure a town
for subsequent military deployments.
All the soldiers had pleaded not guilty to the
charges levelled against them at the
commencement of the trial last October. The
soldiers are the second batch of Nigerian soldiers
condemned to death by Nigerian Military courts for
mutiny.
File: Court martial
The soldiers, attached to the 7 Division, Nigerian
Army in Maiduguri include two Corporals, Cpl, nine
Lance Corporals, LCpl and 49 Private soldiers.
According to the charge against them, they
conspired to commit mutiny against the
authorities of the 7 Division on August 4, at the
Mulai Primary School camp, opposite AIT
Maiduguri, Borno State.
The prosecutor, Captain J.E. Nwosu, told the
military court that the accused soldiers had on
August 4, in Maiduguri, refused to join the 111
Special Forces Battalion troops, commanded by
Timothy Opurum, a Lieutenant Colonel for an
operation.
Mr. Nwosu said the operation was meant to
recapture Delwa, Bulabulin and Damboa in Borno
State from the Boko Haram terrorists.
According to him, the offence is punishable under
Section 52(1) (a) of the Armed Forces Act Cap A20
Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The prosecution called the commander of the 111
Special Forces, Lt.-Col. Opurum, as one of the
witnesses. The statement of the commander was
admitted by the court and marked Exhibit P1.
Mr. Opurum, in his testimony in October, said the
Special Forces were tasked with advancing to
recapture Delwa to clear the way for other
battalions to pass through to recapture Babulin
and Damboa from the insurgents.
He said he took off for the operation with only four
officers and 29 soldiers as “tasked” after majority
of the 174 soldiers in the unit refused to join the
operation.
The witness said after he took charge of the
Special Forces, he addressed and assured them
that they could achieve the task given to them.
He, however, said the soldiers were “hesitant to
partake in the operation” in spite of the
assurances.
Under cross examination by Femi Falana, who
represented the accused soldiers, Mr. Opurum said
47 of the soldiers who initially refused, later re-
joined the forces for another operation.
Mr. Opurum said the 47 soldiers joined, after he
called for reinforcement, as they came under attack
from terrorists, who out-numbered them and had
superior weapons.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/12/54-soldiers-sentenced-death-mutiny/

What?

every bad things happen one man came 2 government and you still want him to continue d bad works
buhari 4 president