General Court Martial Jails Three Soldiers

A General Court Martial sitting in 7 Division, Garrison, Maiduguri, has sentenced two soldiers to 23 years imprisonment respectively.

The soldiers, who are serving in Operation LAFIYA DOLE, were sentenced based on charges that bordered on unlawful possession of fire arms.

According to a statement issued by the deputy director of Army Public Relations, 7 Division, Kingsley Samuel, the crime is punishable under Section 27 (1) (a & b) (i & ii) of the Firearms Act.

“The convicts; Trooper Eric Nwokere and Trooper Macaulay Fortune, at the time of their arrest were in possession of five empty AK-47 rifle magazines and 20,136 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition at Jambutu Motor Park, Jimeta-Yola, Adamawa State while boarding a commercial vehicle to an unknown destination”.

Another soldier, Corporal Garba Saidu, was arrested and charged with illegal possession of 2,800 rounds of 7.2mm (special) ammunition.

The soldier was also sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for unlawful possession of ammunition.

“He (Saidu) was arrested after discovering the ammunition hidden in a poultry farm near Tipper Garage in Maiduguri metropolis. The farm is said to belong to a serving Nigerian policeman. He was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment,” the statement added.

The President of the General Court Martial Lieutenant Colonel Adamu Hassan said the court arrived at the decision after the close of submissions by the prosecution and defence counsels.

He said the prosecution proved the case beyond reasonable doubt in line with the burden of proof on the prosecutor to prove all criminal cases beyond reasonable doubt.