Army Sentences 12 Soldiers To Death For Mutiny

              

A court martial of the Nigerian Army has sentenced 12 soldiers to death by firing squad for attempted murder of Major General Ahmed Audu, the former General Commanding Officer of the Seven Division in Borno State.

Military authorities arraigned 18 soldiers in two batches of 11 and seven with charges ranging from mutiny, attempted murder, insubordination, false accusation, absent without leave and conduct to the prejudice of service discipline.

However, five of the soldiers were acquitted and discharged while a soldier was convicted and sentenced to 28 days imprisonment with hard labour

The 18 soldiers were arraigned on six count charges
bothering on mutiny on May 14.

They were charged with opening fire on a car carrying Major-General Ahmadu Mohammed, the former commanding officer of the Seven Division of the Nigerian Army in Maiduguri, Borno State.

Shortly after the arrival of the panel, the President of the court, General Chukwuemeka Okwonkwo, proceeded to hand down the judgement of the panel.

At the end of judgement, the panel gave an opportunity to the accused counsels to make a plea for mitigation.

In spite of the plea, the court handed down the maximum punishment of death by hanging to 12 of the convicted soldiers. They also bagged two life sentences for conspiracy to commit mutiny and attempted murder.

The panel, however, acquitted them on the use of abusive language and insubordination as the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.

Those found guilty include Corporal Jasper Braidolor, Corporal David Musa, Lance Corporal Friday Onu, Lance Corporal Yusuf Shuaibu Ahmed.

Others are Private Alao Samuel and Private Alan Linus.