The Acting General Officer Commanding 7 Division Nigerian Army, Brigadier General VU Ezegwu, has inaugurated a General Court Martial in Maiduguri to dispel all pending disciplinary cases.
The court will handle, in particular, cases that occurred in the Theatre of Operation Lafiya Dole but could not be tried summarily.
Twenty military personnel including four officers – two Majors and two Captains – and 16 others, comprising one Staff Sergeant, two Sergeants, two Corporals, three Lance Corporals, seven Privates soldiers and a Naval Sea Man are to undergo trial for different offences.
Addressing members of the court, Brigadier General Ezegwu said: “As you are all aware, discipline is the bedrock of the military profession and to have a disciplined body of officers and men, there must be justice because it is when there is justice that discipline can be achieved.
“Justice implies that infractions of the law must be promptly reported, investigated and the accused persons prosecuted within a reasonable time through the laid down rules, regulations and procedures.
“The outcome of this GCM must therefore be based on careful appreciation of the whole facts of each case and evidence placed before you in the course of trial of these accused persons.
“Finally, you are to please ensure that the judgement you pass on the accused person will stand the test of appellate court, public opinion and above all, that of the Almighty Creator”.
He assured the accused that they were presumed innocent until the court proved them guilty.
“I want to further state that your rights to fair hearing and other fundamental human rights would be adhered to,” Mr Ezegwu reassured the accused.
The nature of the offences include murder, loss of arms, defilement, assault occasioning to bodily harm and desertion, amongst others.
After the inauguration, Brigadier General Olusegun Adeniyi, who will preside over the Court, promised to be fair to all the accused persons, assuring them that they are presumed innocent until proven otherwise.
He further reiterated that the court would hasten its proceedings, as ‘justice delayed is justice denied’.