General Court Martial Inaugurated By Nigerian Army

The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Victor Ezugwu has convened a General Cort Martial to try accused personnel of the Nigerian Army who committed various offences within the Theatre of Operation Lafiya Dole following the directive from the Army Headquarters (AHQ) to that effect.

Brig. Gen Ezugwu during his inaugural address said " discipline is the bedrock of the military profession and to have a disciplined body of officers and men,there must be justice because it is when there is justice that disciplinecan be achieved.

He observed that Justice implies that infractions of the law must be promptly reported, investigatd and the accused persons prosecuted within a reasonable time through the laid down rules, regulationsand procedures.

The GOC disclosed that four officers and 16 other ranks of the Nigerian Army who have committed various offences within the Theatre of Operation Lafiya Dole are to be tried by the Court adding that one of the aims of a Court MMartial is to achieve timely and quick disoensation of justice within the framework provided in relevant statute books.

Gen. Ezugwu stressed that it is important that both the prosecution and the Accused persons or their counsels are mindful of this fact and strive to shun all forms of antics such as request for frivolous adjourments which could lead to unnecessary delays in the trial process as justice delayed is justice denied.

He therefore enjoined the President and Members of the GCM to dispense this all important assignment in accordance with the appropriate extant laws and ensure that opinions and decisions on all the cases before them are be clouded with bias, external pressure or extraneous factors so that the outcome would be based on caregul appreciation of the whole facts of each case and evidence placed before the court in the course of trying the accusef persons.

The GOC 7 Division urged members to ensure that the judgment the court oasses on the accused persons will stand the test of appellate court, public opinion and above all that of the Almighty Creator.

Brig. Gen. Ezugwu assured the accused that thry are presumef innocent until the court finds otherwise and further stated that their rights to fair hearing and fundamental human rights would be adhered to throughout the trial.

He said the Nigerian Army through this action want to assure the Nation and International Community that it shall not condone cases of violation of laws of armed conflict in the discharge of its constitutional responsibilities.