Plateau Military Task Force Sanctions Five Personnel

JOS, July 19, (THEWILL) - Two personnel of the Special Military Task Force (STF) maintaining security in Plateau State have been demoted from the ranks of Sergeant to Lance Corporal through a court martial set up by the task force to try its erring officers.

Five persons appeared before the court which started sitting last week Monday.

The other three who were also court martialled were penalized for various offences.

All the five accused persons that were arraigned at the trial pleaded ‘not guilty,' to the various charges against them.

Col. Abel Okpeki who presided over the court martial said Sgt. Buba Joda and Musa Huseini who were arraigned on a one count charge of theft of a Mikano generating set belonging to Air Vice Marshal Jonah Wuyep (rtd) were found guilty of committing the offense and were demoted.

Another, Seaman Okolo Denis who was arraigned on a two count charge of "manslaughter" for allegedly firing a gunshot that caused serious injury to one Inspector Emmanuel Ebelechi who later died was also charged for failure to perform military duties and had left his duty post without due permission."

He was acquitted of the manslaughter charge but convicted for" disobedience to standing orders."

The two other persons Seaman Sunday Isaiah and Seaman Edet Henry Okon were arraigned for house breaking and other offenses and were found guilty for their inability to avoid the incident "thereby bringing the Armed Forces code to disrepute" and were severely reprimanded for their actions.