Monsignor Gabriel Osu on Friday appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to extend his arm of mercy to the 66 soldiers whose sentences were recently commuted to 10 years imprisonment for mutiny.
Osu, the Director of Communication of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, made this call in his Christmas message to Nigerians.
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that 71 soldiers had been arraigned in late 2014 on several count charges.
Some of the charges included criminal conspiracy, conspiracy to commit mutiny, mutiny, and attempt to commit an offence (murder), disobedience to particular orders, insubordinate behaviour and false accusation.
Death sentences by firing squad were passed on 66 of the soldiers who were found guilty by separate general court martial, which have now been commuted to 10 years imprisonment each.
According to Osu, the plea for pardon was necessary as Catholics worldwide will commence the celebration of the ‘Year Of Mercy’ as directed by Pope Francis.
Osu said the need to pardon the convicted solders had become imperative considering the situation on ground.
He said: “I want to use this opportunity to call on the Chief of Army Staff and indeed President Buhari to tamper justice with mercy by pardoning the convicted soldiers.
“It is not a sign of weakness to pardon them; rather, it will go a long way to further endear Nigerians to the present administration.
“Recent revelations from the top army echelon and indeed our anti-graft agencies have shown that the soldiers were not provided with adequate equipment to tackle the Boko Haram members.
“If this is the case, it is only right that one who is exposed to life-threatening danger, as they were, would want to safeguard his own safety at all cost.”
NAN.
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