Saturday, October 24, 2015

More on that closed court-martial in Nigeria

More information has become available about the recent court-martial of a Nigerian general officer. The media were excluded from the trial. But why? Because the subject was embarrassing for the Army? Here is the latest report from Leadership:
The army yesterday broke its silence over the sentence of the General Court Martial passed on Brigadier-general Enitan Ransome-Kuti for the crimes, he allegedly committed in the operations against the Boko Haram terror group in the North-east. 
Since the army stopped the media coverage of the General Court Martial, where soldiers and officers are being tried for some criminal offences allegedly committed in the on-going operation against the Boko Haram terrorists, the media has been relying on reports from the lawyers, officers and soldiers who attended it. 
In a statement titled, "A Response to Media Enquiry on Judgement of General Court Martial," issued and signed by the acting director, Army Public Relations, Col Sani Kukasheka Usman, the army confirmed the two sentences passed on him.

"In reference to media enquiry on the judgement passed by a General Court Martial yesterday at Army Headquarters Garrison refers. I wish to confirm that one of the accused persons, Brigadier-general EA Ransome-Kuti was awarded the following punishments on the various count charges against him as follows: 
"The first count charge which was 'Cowardly Behaviour' was struck out but he was found guilty on count charge number two which was 'Failure to Perform Military Duties' and was dismissed from the Nigerian Army. 
"He was equally found guilty on count charge number three, which was 'Miscellaneous Offences Relating to Service Property' and was awarded six months imprisonment.
Judging by this account, it would seem that sentencing is done on a per-charge basis rather than a single sentence being adjudged for all offenses. And what happened to the other accused?

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