GENERAL OFFICER COMMANDING IN TROUBLE OVER STOLEN N400MILLION, FACES MILITARY COURT MARTIAL
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, while inaugurating the General Court Martial disclosed that it is to be presided over by the Chief of Policy and Plans, Nigerian Army Headquarters, Major General Lamidi Adeosun.
Penpushing further reports that, Buratai, a lieutenant general, also announced appointment of Major A. Muhammed, from the Headquarters Directorate of Army Legal Services as the Judge Advocate of the court.
The prosecuting officers as announced at the inauguration include Majors J.A Orumo, J,A Obot, from the Office of the National Security Adviser, I.A Suleman from Guards Brigade, while the convening order issued by the Chief of Army Staff stated that the General Court Martial as composed is to assemble at Army Headquarters Command Mess Abuja for the purpose of trying the accuse person.
“The charges are to be served on the accused person or his counsel not later than 24 hours before arraignment. The prosecuting and defence counsels will respectively call witnesses to prove their cases in accordance with the law’.
“The accused person is entitled to a defence counsel of his choice and accused person is to inform the convening officer of his counsel not later than 24 hours before the commencement of the trial’,Buratai said.
“Recommended books to be used are the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended; Armed Forces Act Cap A20 Laws of the Federation 2004; Evidence Act number 18 of 2011; Rules of Procedures, Army 1972; the Holy Bible; the Holy Quran and any other relevant document,’’ he added.
Penpushing recalled that, the Army authorities had in July begun the interrogation of the former General Officer Commanding(GOC) over the missing N400 million, while five soldiers had been confirmed to have carted away a consignment containing the money, while on an escort duty from Sokoto to Kaduna States in July.
The other members of the court include; A.A Tarfa from the Headquarters Training and Doctrine Nigerian Army, F.O Agugo from Department of Army Transformation and Innovation , J.S Malu from the Headquarters Nigerian Army Engineers,,Major Generals M.A. Muhammed from the Headquarters Nigerian Army Signal, C.T Olukuju from Land Forces Stimulation Centre while C.C Okonkwo will serve as a waiting member.
