The Federal High Court, Abuja, has ordered the Nigerian Army
to stay the execution of the 12 soldiers condemned to death by Army
General Court-Martial following their alleged involvement in mutiny.
The order was given on Tuesday, October 28, 2014, by Justice Gabriel
Kolawole, in a fundamental rights case filed by Olisa Agbakoba against
the Chief of Army Staff, the Commander, Army Headquarters Garrison,
Mogadishu Cantonment, Asokoro Abuja, and the Attorney General of the
Federation.
It would be recalled that Brigadier-General B. T. Ndiomu, Commander,
Army Headquarters Garrison, Mogadishu Cantonment, convened a nine-man
General Court-Martial to try 18 soldiers for mutiny, insubordination and
other military offences.
The mutiny took place at Maimalari Military Barracks on May 14, 2014.
The Court-Martial convicted and sentenced 12 soldiers to death by
firing squad.
As a result, Agbakoba had approached the Federal High Court to set
aside the death sentence, on grounds of violation of fundamental rights
of the soldiers and inconsistency with the Constitution. The Case is No.
FHC/ABJ/Cs/708/14
The Chief of Army Staff and the Commander, Army Headquarters
Garrison, Mogadishu Cantonment are both represented by a counsel. The
case was called in court on October 28, 2014.
Meanwhile, counsel to the army requested adjournment. The Federal
High Court adjourned the case to December 8, 2014 but ordered stay of
execution of the death sentence, pending the determination of the Case.
The implication is that the army has been stopped from carrying out the
death sentenced, pending the determination,
No comments:
Post a Comment