The Nigerian Army has reversed the dismissal of a former Commander of the Multi National Joint Task Force, Enitan Ransome-Kuti, by a Special Court Martial on October 15, 2015.
Rather, it approved that Ransome-Kuti, a Brigadier General, be demoted to the rank of a Colonel.
These decisions were confined in a letter by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, dated March 1, 2016.
The letter was signed on behalf of Buratai by Colonel O.N. Taiwo.
While directing that Ransome-Kuti be immediately released from custody, the letter said he should be posted out of jurisdiction, that is away from the theatre of war against Boko Haram.
The decisions were said to have been taken at a meeting of the Nigerian Army Council on February 22, 2016.
Buratai’s letter, with reference number, AHQ DOAA/G1/300/197, was titled: “Army Council’s decision for implementation: Brig.-Gen. E.A Rasome-Kuti (N/8301).”
It reads in part: “Consequently, I am directed to inform you that Reference B has conveyed to the headquarters that the Army Council in its last meeting on February 22, 2016 confirmed the conviction of the accused senior officer on Count 2 but commuted the sentence of dismissal to reduction in rank from brigadier-general to colonel.
“The council also quashed the findings of guilt and award of six months imprisonment awarded by the SCM on Count 3 and replaced same with a finding of ‘not guilty’. The senior officer was thus discharged and acquitted on Count 3.
“Accordingly, I am directed to request AHQ to release the senior officer from close custody. I am to also request AHQ MS to post him out of jurisdiction.”
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