ARMY COURTMARTIAL 14 JSTF, STF PERSONNEL…2 COLONELS, ONE MWO INCLUDED

Major General Jack Nwaogbo, General Officer Commanding, 3 Armoured Division, Nigerian Army

NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA
28 May, 2012

THE Nigerian Army on Monday began the
court-martial of 14 soldiers serving in
Security Task Forces in Maiduguri, Jos
and Bauchi for alleged misconduct.According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the accused included two Colonels, a Master Warrant Officer,
seven Lance Corporals and four Privates.

The GOC, 3 Armoured Division, Maj. Gen
Jack Nwaogbo, while inaugurating the
court at the 3 Armoured Division in Jos,
said the trial was to determine the
culpability of the accused in the charges
brought against them. “Court-martial is one of the procedures in the Armed forces to right some of the perceived wrongdoings by either officers or soldiers who may have erred or allegedly erred in the course of performing their duties.

“This court-martial is meant to try
alleged offences committed by officers
and soldiers serving in 3 Armoured
Division, the Special Task Force in
Plateau and Bauchi, and the Joint
Special Task Force in Maiduguri.”

Nwaogbo explained that the 3 Division
was the only location in the North
authorised to set up such court to try
erring personnel. The GOC urged members of the public to always report cases of abuse and misconduct by military personnel,pointing out that such reports would help the authorities enforce discipline and the rights of victims.

“For now, all of them (accused) are
presumed innocent until proven otherwise by the court; it is not my duty
to pronounce any one of them guilty for
now. “That is why in line with my
responsibility as the GOC, and also in
line with the Armed Forces Act CAP A-20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, I
have set up this Court to look into these
cases and to adjudicate as appropriate.”

Nwaogbo charged the defence counsels
to look into the charges preferred
against their clients to ensure that
justice was done, while also urging the
prosecuting counsels to cooperate with
the court. Earlier, Lt. Col. Stephen Andow, General Staff Officer, 3 Division, explained that the offences leveled against the accused were beyond the powers of their various commanders.

The President of the six-man Court, Brig
Gen Adamoh Salihu, pledged to be fair
and just in the discharge of their duties. NAN reports that details of the charges
were not given.