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-Army General fingered in arms supply to Boko Haram not yet court-martialed

The nine serving Nigerian Army generals fingered in supplying arms to the extremist group, Boko Haram will soon be court- martialed.

Brigadier General Olukolade
Brigadier General Olukolade

The army generals would be telling an investigation panel what they know about an alleged illegal arms deal going on in the military. The unidentified generals are being questioned by the army hierarchy for movement of weapons and army armouries from some military locations in the northern states.

When reportedly contacted, the Director of Defence Information, Major-General Chris Olukolade would not confirm the allegation but explained that some top military officers were being investigated for contravening military ethics. He added that they would soon be court martialed as soon as Army Headquarters decides on the date for their trial.

He also explained that the military high command would only make the matter public after concluding its internal checks to ensure that there are no loose ends. Multiple sources however told ENCOMIUM Weekly that there is indeed serious allegation of sabotage against some top military officers.

“Yes, it is true some Army generals are in trouble over their alleged involvement in supplying arms to insurgents. They are also being questioned for leaking military operations secrets to the militant Islamist sect. But this is not yet official”.

President Goodluck Jonathan had also earlier informed a bemused nation that some enemies within the government and the military were giving support to Boko Haram. Few months before this, a soldier had told a foreign news agency that some top military chiefs were conniving with insurgents in their raging offensive in the North East.

But in a swift reaction then, the Defence Headquarters described the allegations as grave and promised to investigate the claims.

President Jonathan
President Jonathan

With the maiming and killing of thousands by insurgents in bomb attacks, the last few months have been a bad one for Nigerians. In just a month, there has been four deadly bomb explosions. Two in Nyanya, Abuja, one in Kano and yet another in Jos, Plateau state.

Not even the presence of the US, British, Isreali and other security personnel and intelligence agents who were invited by the Federal Government to assist in taming Boko Haram could deter them from spilling more innocent blood. It would be recalled that the Nigerian Army, in May 2012, began the court-martial of 14 soldiers serving in special task forces in Maiduguri, Jos and Bauchi for alleged gross misconduct.

The accused included two colonels, a master warrant officer, seven lance corporals and four privates.

The GOC, 3 Armoured Division, Jack Nwaogbo, while inaugurating the court at the 3 Armoured Division in Jos, said the trial was to determine the culpability of the accused in the charges brought against them.

Court-martial, he explained, “Is one of the procedures in the Armed Forces to right some of the perceived wrongdoings by either officers or soldiers who may have allegedly erred in the course of their duties.”

Two years on, information filtering in from the same Nigerian Army, the institution that should protect citizens is that nine Generals are allegedly supplying arms to enemies.

ENCOMIUM Weekly has also been reliably informed it is a matter of time before the suspects would be court- martialed. In fact, many had even thought the black sheep in the army would have faced the wrath of the law last week. Those familiar with martial law however, explained the military usually establish more than enough evidence before prosecution through a court martial, a court consisting of military or naval personnel appointed by a commander to try charges of offenses by soldiers, sailors, etc, against military or naval law.

– UCHE OLEHI

Encomium

Written by Encomium

A media, tech and events company.

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