by Kolapo Olapoju
When the Nigerian Army declared its intention to court-martial some senior officers, many took it with a pinch of salt, a sentiment that was shared several Nigerians.
With several soldiers having gone through the court martial process for mutiny, dereliction of duty and other offences in the war against Boko Haram, only a few envisaged the likelihood of their superiors suffering the same fate.
But alas, the few may be right after all, as the military authorities will today, Monday, March 9, commence the trial of a Brigadier General, four colonels, seven Lt. Cols, and 10 other officers of the Nigerian Army in Lagos.
The soldiers are being tried for alleged negligence, cowardly behaviour, failure to perform military duty, negligent performance of military duties other offences relating to service property and complicity in the invasion of the 21 Artillery Brigade, Bama, by Boko Haram insurgents on September 2, 2014.
According to Punch newspapers, 23 Army officers would be prosecuted for various military offences under the 81 Division, GCM, Lagos, scheduled for inauguration at the Ikeja Cantonment today.
The General Court Martial will be presided over by Maj. Gen. S.D Aliyu.
If found guilty, those on trial for cowardly behaviour will get the death penalty while other offences attract nothing less than two years imprisonment.
