by Azubuike Azikiwe

The twelve soldiers convicted of mutiny might be doomed to die, as several retired senior military officers, have said the Nigerian Army has followed due process in sentencing the officers to death.

Following the court-martial of the soldiers, 12 out of them were found guilty of mutiny and sentenced to death, five were discharged and acquitted, while the remaining one was jailed for 28 days with hard labour.

The military court had accused the soldiers of criminal conspiracy, attempted murder, insubordination and false accusation, in the attack on the General Officer Commanding, 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Ahmed Mohammed, in Maiduguri, Borno State,

A former military administrator of Bauchi and Osun states, Col. Theophilus Bamigboye (retd.), said despite not wanting anyone to die, he believes the law of the military must be followed.

He said, “The court has followed the laid down procedure and military etiquette. They (the court) must have looked at the entire situations before arriving at the sentence. We have our own laws and so many things regulating our conduct in the military. I will not want anybody to die but we are talking of military procedure, which has to be followed.”

Another retired military officer, a former Commandant of the Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Brig.-Gen. Williams Obene (retd.), said, “I commend the boldness of the Army authorities to follow the terms and conditions of service – the extant laws that established the armed forces, particularly the Army– and for trying to uphold discipline at the highest level.”

“When politicians and highly influential Nigerians interfere in the daily administration of the military, things become difficult. That situation is very prevalent under democracy,” he added.

Also, the former Minister of Police Affairs and erstwhile Adjutant-General of the Nigerian Army, Major General David Jemibewon (retd.), said the military does not allow sentiments cloud their judgement, and as such, the laws has to be followed to the letter.

“The military does not operate on sentiments or on people expressing either sympathy or lack of sympathy. Most of the things (we do) in the military are based on laws. It is difficult for me to align with people calling for clemency or pardon. The court martial has the facts and they have now come to conclusion after allowing evidence.”

Kolapo Olapoju