This testimony starkly contradicts the
assertion of the former Chief of Army
Staff Kenneth Minimah that brand new
equipment was purchased and issued to
the MNJTF.
Brigadier General Kuti was in charge of
Baga, in Borno State, when Boko Haram
overran the army headquarters in
December 2014. International
organizations estimated that over 3, 000
died in the incident, but Defense
Headquarters posted a much lower
figure of 150.
Making the stunning statement at the
Special Court Martial, which is taking
place at the Army Headquarters
Garrison in Abuja, was Major Gen MY
Ibrahim, former General Officer
Commanding the 7th Division of the
army.
Major General Ibrahim caused a further
stir when he declared that throughout
his tenure as the GOC, he did not once
visit Baga.
General Ibrahim further testified that
the three MBLT Battle Tanks issued to
the force had mechanical and electrical
faults, while the artillery guns lacked
critical accessories.
It was further revealed during the trial
that the MNJTF lacked adequate fighting
vehicles and support weapons. Most of
the battle tanks in Baga were issued in
1998 at the commencement of the
operation, and were therefore in very
poor condition. The tanks were
therefore not useful and could not
effectively be used to repel the attack
by the insurgents on the 3rd of January
2015.
Despite Army Headquarters directives
that there should be mutual support in
the North East operation by all
members of the Nigerian Army,
members of the Court Martial were
dumbfounded when documentary
evidence was tendered to show that the
former GOC intentionally refused to task
any military unit to support the MNJTF
when it came under that attack.
Prior to this development, the
Investigating Police Officer had informed
the court that he was restricted in his
investigation while the second
prosecution witness, Captain EE
Emmanuel, testified that MNJTF fighting
equipment was unserviceable and that
the troops were thus overwhelmed by
the insurgents who fought with superior
fire power and in strength.
Meanwhile, the Committee set up by
the Chief of Army Staff to screen
officers and soldiers in Jaji has
concluded its sitting without screening
all the army officers who turned up for
the exercise. The committee made up
of Maj Gen A Oyebade, Col I Buhari, Col
ON Taiwo, Col TS Nurseman, Lt Col EO
Ugwu, Lt Col ME Elom and Lt Col U
Ukpe, directed the officers to return to
their location and continue with their
trials.
Although the trial has not commenced,
our investigations have revealed that
Col I Buhari participated in the
investigations that led to the trial of
most of the officers while Col TS
Nurseman, Lt Col EO Ugwu and Lt Col U
Ukpe who are presently serving as
Director Legal Services in HQ 81 Div, HQ
1 Div and AHQ Gar respectively, gave
the legal advice that led to the
convening and trial of the officers
affected by the court martial. Of equal
significance, they are participating as
either the Prosecutor or Judge Advocate
in the court martial.
The Special Court Martial is expected to
resume sitting tomorrow for the
defence counsels Femi Falana and Rtd
Maj OA Oyebanji to open their case.
Notice has been given in court that the
military authorities should make the
former Chief of Defence Staff, former
Chief of Army Staff and Maj Gen JAH
Ewansiha available as witnesses in view
of the testimony of General Ibrahim that
new equipment was never issued to the
MNJTF.

loomer:
So where all the money wey government dey allocate to defence come enter during that periods?