Boko Haram: Army reopens case of personnel desertion

Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Tukur Buratai

Seven officers including a Brigadier General, two Colonels and four Lieutenant Colonels appeared before the Nigerian Army Court Martial held in Lagos Tuesday.

The army officers that appeared at the court martial are – Gen. J.O. Komolafe, Colonels I.B. Maina and I.A. Aboi, Lieutenant Colonels N.N. Orok, C.A. Magaji, A.O. Agwu and O.O. Obolo,

The officers were among the initial 22 whose trial commenced in 2014 at the Nine Brigade, for alleged desertion and cowardice in the fight against Boko Haram sect.

They are also being tried for alleged negligence and complicity in the invasion of the 21 Artillery Brigade, Bama, by Boko Haram insurgents on September 2, 2014.

Also standing trial before the Court Martial is a soldier, whose identity could not be ascertained.

Although the court martial suffered several adjournments, it was learnt that the cases of 14 officers- Colonels A. Laguda, V. Ebhaleme, V.O. Ita, I.M Kabir, M.H. Abubakar, A. A. Egbejule, A.J.S. Gulani, A.M. Adetuyi; Major M.M Idris; Captains M. Adamu, O. A. Adenaike, M. Gidado, M.M. Clark and S. Raymond as well as a Second Lieutenant, S.O. Olowa- have been decided.

Since inception, journalists have been barred from covering the trial, which usually held under tight security.

Confirming the development, Col. Kingsley Samuel said: "The court martial resumed sitting on Monday, January 25, to continue hearing cases of seven officers and a soldier.

"This is against erroneous news reports that 19 officers of the Nigerian Army are facing trial at the court martial.

"The case was part-heard and now the court martial board has continued to hear the case. This is not a fresh court martial but a continuation of the former one."

man*