EXCLUSIVE: Nigerian Army General To Be Court-martialed Over Corruption Charges

By
Femi Adeoya
-
0
384

 
 
 
 
The Nigerian Army is set to try a serving two-star General (name withheld), over allegation of official corruption. Already, the serving Major General has been posted to Army Headquarters AHQ) Garrison, Abuja, for jurisdiction.
 
He is expected to appear before a General Court Martial (GCM), which will be inaugurated for his trial. A document obtained by New Telegraph dated December 18, 2015, and titled, Posting And Appointment/ Amendment /Deletion NA Officers, showed that the affected senior officer was posted from Lagos to Abuja for jurisdiction, with effect from December 31 last year.
 
Highly placed sources, who spoke in confidence with New Telegraph, said the Major General may be court-martialled on offences bordering on alleged official corruption. The details of the corrupt practices were not clear as at press time. “The General is to face trial before a court martial over his alleged involvement in official corruption,” one of the sources said.
 
He added that “he has been investigated by a military investigative panel,” which may have recommended the anticipated court martial. When New Telegraph called the spokesman of the AHQ Garrison, Col. Aliyu Yusuf, for comment, he said: “Not for now; if there is anything, I will get in touch with you.”
 
Efforts to get the Acting Director, Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman, to corroborate the report, did not yield result, as he did not reply to a message sent in that regard. Several military and security sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, explained that an officer posted for jurisdiction, is expected to face court martial. “When an officer or soldier is posted for jurisdiction, what it means is that he is to be court-martialled for an alleged offence or offences, which had been investigated and report of possible indictment turned in.
 
 
 
 
“In fact, an officer or soldier posted for jurisdiction remains at the said jurisdiction until the trial process runs its full course,” one of the sources said. Meanwhile, the document, marked AHQ MS/G 1/300/207, indicated that 799 officers were affected in the posting and appointment. Among the senior officers are 32 Major Generals and 160 Brigadiers- General.
 
Also affected were 211 Colonels, among other officers. According to the document, “the posting and appointment of the under- mentioned officers is authorised with effect from the dates shown against their names.” In the posting and appointment, which was signed by MH Garba, a Major General and Military Secretary (Army), it was further stated that:
 
“It is the responsibility of all formation/unit commanders whose officers are affected by this posting to implement accordingly. “Officers must take over on the effective dates indicated. Formation/unit commanders will be held responsible for lapses in the implementation of the directives contained therein.”
 
It will be recalled that a General Court Martial sitting at the AHQ Garrison had, in October 2015, dismissed the former Commander of the disbanded Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in Baga, Borno State, Brig.-Gen. Enitan Ransome-Kuti. The GCM arrived at the decision, after finding Ransome-Kuti guilty of an offence bordering on failure to perform military duty. The one-star General was also found guilty and sentenced to a six months jail term, on a second count, which bordered on miscellaneous offence relating to service property.
 
About a week ago, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) had warned that “…The military, like any segment of the government institution, operates within the laws. So, whoever goes in parallel with law of the land must be held accountable to move our country forward…”
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
{fcomment}
]]>