Ekiti, Osun polls: Two Army officers for retirement, three to lose command positions

The last is yet to be heard of the fallout of the governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States as two officers of the Nigerian Army have been recommended for compulsory retirement over their roles in the polls.
Apart from the two to be compulsorily retired, three others are to lose their command positions, with one to be prosecuted for collecting financial gratification.
These punishments were the recommendations of the Major General Adeniyi Oyebade-led Nigerian Army Board of Inquiry on the Review of Allegations of Unprofessional Conducts By Some Officers and Soldiers During the 2015 Elections.
Oyebade disclosed this on Monday while submitting the report of the Board to the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, at the Army Headquarters in Abuja.
Other recommendations included the placing of 15 officers on a watch list, while nine are to be further investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over allegations levelled against them.
Oyebade said six officers were recommended to face an audit committee and 62 officers, mostly of the rank of Majors and below, were recommended to be given Letters of Displeasure and to appear before their respective General Officers Commanding for counselling.
He said that an officer, Captain Sagir Koli, has been commended for non-partisanship and professional conduct.
Oyebade stated that the Board placed advertorials in the media requesting for memoranda from the public before it commenced sitting.
He said 23 officers and over 100 soldiers appeared before the Board as well as 62 civilians.
He thanked the Nigerian Army for the opportunity to serve and reiterated the Board members’ willingness to serve when called upon for any other such assignment.
He also acknowledged the support and cooperation received from the Nigerian Police and other security agencies,as well as the general public.
Buratai thanked the Board for a thorough and dispassionate job devoid of influence from any quarters.
He expressed delight that the Board, knowing the gravity and implication of their report on the careers of officers and impact on the Nigerian Army, discharged its assignment diligently and professionally.
He assured them that the report would be reviewed in line with Nigerian Army’s legal and administrative procedures.
Buratai enjoined members of the Board to share knowledge acquired in the course of their assignment with their colleagues for the benefit of the Nigerian Army and the nation.