The 3 Division arm of the Nigerian Army in Plateau State, on Tuesday inaugurated a General Court Martial to try an erring officer and 16 soldiers.
There offenses ranged from murder, armed robbery, unlawful possession of arms and ammunitions, selling of arms and ammunitions and other offenses in their duty of operation, the Acting Deputy Director, Legal Services, Prosecutor for 3 Division Army, Maj. Aminu Mairuwa, said.
Newsmen gathered that the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 3 Division Nigerian Army Maj.-Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar who also doubles as the Commander Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), appointed the military legal panel that constituted the general Court Martial.
However, speaking at the inaugural ceremony, President of the Court Martial 3 Division, Brig.- Gen. Liafis Bello, said that discipline was the foundation on which career in the military was based.
He said that any officer who wanted to succeed in the military should be disciplined and loyal, adding that these are two essential requirements an officer should not lack.
Bello said: “Discipline is the foundation on which the military career rests; as a matter of fact, discipline and loyalty are two essential requirements no officer or soldier, who wants to succeed in professional soldiering, can afford to lack.
“It is the duty of superiors to observe, correct and instantly deal with negligence or any misconduct on the part of subordinates.
“When there is any breach, it is expected that appropriate disciplinary measures must be taken by commanders to forestall future occurrences.
“This way, the Nigerian Army can continue to play its constitutional role and sustain its accolade as the pride of the Nigerian nation”, he said.
Bello said that the need for the court martial became necessary so as to ensure that the high level of professionalism required to confront the lingering security challenges was sustained.
He enjoined members of the panel to discharge their duties expeditiously and with high degree of commitment, so as to enable the accused persons ascertain their fate in time.
According to him: “Justice is a three-way traffic that involves the accused, the Nigerian army and the State, hence the need for fairness and equity.
“I want to implore this general court martial to ensure that no effort is spared to achieve this three way traffic of the justice system.
“Where a person is convicted of an offense, a sentence ought to be passed. Such sentences must be humanely meted out.
“Punishment is among the means available for the maintenance of discipline in the Nigerian Army; as such the kind and amount of punishment should be adequate enough to achieve its purpose and serve as deterrence to others”.
On his part, the Judge Advocate, Maj.-Gen. Nasir Abdullahi who administered the oat, informed that the GOC approved the setting up of the Court Martial on February 6, 2024.
In his remarks, the Plateau State Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Barr. Izang Aware, expressed satisfaction at the inauguration of the panel, saying that it will be the delight of the Bar, to see that justice is served.
Aware was represented by his colleague Barr. Samson Gotom.
The Court was, however, adjourned to the 6th of March 2024, our correspondent reports.