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Twenty-five soldiers and an officer are currently facing court martial trials in 82 Division of the Nigerian Army for various offences.
The personnel facing the trial are drawn from various formations within the division, which Area of Responsibility (AoR) covers the entire Southeast States and Cross River.
General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Hassan Dada, who inaugurated the court martial in Enugu, yesterday, said the process was instituted pursuant to the Nigerian Armed Forces Act. He said court martial is one of the vehicles used by the military to instill discipline among its personnel. He noted that the accused, who are Nigerian Army personnel, alleged to have committed various offences, could not be tried summarily without a duly constituted court martial to give them fair hearing.
The GOC said just as in civil court, the accused remained innocent until proven otherwise after going through the court martial and given due fair hearing and ability to defend themselves. He noted that the court martial has been empowered to try the accused persons, and if they are not found wanting, would be discharged and acquitted of their alleged crimes.
Dada noted that any of the accused found guilty, would be penalised according to the law criminalising such an offence committed.
“Let me assure you that this court martial will be guided by the principle of natural justice and fair hearing as encapsulated in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, and to other extant laws and procedures related to your trial.
The court is free from any external influences and we will ensure adequate time and facilities to ensure you defend yourselves,” he said.
The GOC assured all of justice, adding that evidence and allegations laid against the accused would be clearly verified and authenticated to ensure that “the innocents were never victimised”. He, however, urged the defence counsel of the accused to avoid unnecessary adjournment and time wasting.
The court martial has a President, Col. Usman Ahmad, leading other 10 members of the panel as well as one awaiting panel member. The court martial also has a Judge Advocate, Capt. S.A. Sadiq, to duly advise the panel as the proceedings continued.
