By CHARLES ONYEKWERE
Nigerian Army has established a General Court Martial for the trial of five officers and 20 soldiers within the jurisdiction of 82 Division in Enugu.
The offences of the accused army personnel include murder, defilement, manslaughter, extortion and assault on civilians.
Inaugurating the court martial, President of the General Court Martial, Brigadier-General Buhari Sadisu said it was convened by the General Officer Commanding, GOC, 82 Division, Major-General Oluyemi Olatoye.
Noting that court martial is one of the instruments used in the armed forces to maintain discipline, Sadisu said in the system, military personnel alleged to have committed offences known to laws applicable to them are tried and if found guilty, punished in accordance to the laws criminalising such offences.
“However, where the prosecution fails to establish the allegations against them, the court will discharge and acquit the accused personnel,” he said.
He assured that the court martial would be guided throughout the trial by the principles of natural justice and fair hearing, as well as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and other extant laws and procedures related to such trial.
General Sadisu added that the court martial would be free from external influence and also afford the accused personnel adequate time and facility to defend themselves.
“Under our criminal justice system, it is better for 99 guilty persons to be set free than for one innocent person to be convicted.
“Accordingly, I hereby assure you that the court martial will strive to do justice in your cases by ensuring that evidence presented before it are judiciously and fairly evaluated.
“This is in order to avoid a situation where an innocent person is made to suffer unjustly,” he said.
