The Nigerian Army on Wednesday inaugurated a General Court Martial to try four officers and 16 soldiers found wanting within the Operation Lafiya Dole Theatre Command in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
Brigadier General Victor Ezugwu, the General Officer Commanding 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, inaugurated the GCM at a ceremony in Maiduguri.
Ezugwu saidthe action followed an order from the Nigerian Army Headquarters in Abuja.
He said: “Following the directives from Army Headquarters that a standing GCM be set up for the Operation Lafiya Dole to try offence committed by personnel within the Theatre of Operation, I issued a convening order for the GCM on August 5 and members were directed to assemble today for formal inauguration.
“As you are aware, discipline is the bedrock of the military profession and to have a disciplined body of officers and men there must be justice, because it is when there is justice that discipline can be achieved.”
Ezugwu said four officers and 16 soldiers would face trial at the GCM.
He added: “Justice implies that infractions of the law must be promptly reported, investigated and the accused persons prosecuted within a reasonable time through the laid down rules regulations and procedures.
“The GCM is, therefore, convened to try a total of four officers and 16 other ranks of the Nigerian Army who have committed various offences within the Theatre.”
Ezugwu also said the aim of a GCM was to ensure quick dispensation of justice to the accused persons.
He said: “It must be stated at this juncture that one of the aims of a court martial is to achieve timely and quick dispensation of justice within the framework provided in relation to statue books.
“Therefore, it is important that both the prosecutors and the accused persons or their counsels are mindful of this fact and strive to shun all forms of antics such as request for frivolous adjournments, which could lead to unnecessary delays in the trials processes.
“It is often said in the legal parlance that justice delayed is justice denied.
“For the President and members of the GCM, I enjoin you all to dispense this all important assignment in accordance with the appropriate extant laws.
“And ensure that your opinions and decisions on all the cases brought before you is not in any way beclouded with bias, external pressure by extraneous factors.
“The outcome of the GCM must, therefore, be based on careful appreciation of the whole facts of each and every evidence placed before you in the course of trial of these accused persons.
“Finally, you are to ensure that the judgment you pass on the accused persons will stand the test of appellate court, public opinion and above all that of the Almighty creator.
“For the accused, be assured that you are all presumed innocent until this honourable court finds otherwise.
“I wish to further state that your rights to fair hearing and other fundamental human rights will be adhered to throughout this trial.”
The President of the GCM, Brigadier General Segun Adeniyi, also addressed the court shortly after taking oath of administration, with a promise to be fair and just to the accused in the conduct of the trial.
Those to be tried are two Majors, two Captains, one Staff Sergeant, two Sergeants, two Corporals, three Lance Corporals, seven Privates and a Naval Sea Man.
They are to be tried for murder, loss of arms, defilement, assault occasioning to bodily harm and desertion, amongst others.