TheCable

The Nigerian army has begun the trial of soldiers accused of committing mutiny after refusing to join troops for an operation in Maiduguri, capital of Borno state, on August 4, 2014.

After the opening formalities of the inauguration of members and president of the court-martial, the trial was scheduled to continue on October 15.

The trial was originally scheduled to hold on Tuesday, but it was postponed till Thursday because of the country’s 54th Independence Day celebrations.

To be tried at the Mogadishu cantonment, Abuja, same place where 12 soldiers were sentenced to death for mutiny on September 16,  are 16 officers and 81 soldiers.

The army earlier issued a terse statement to say the trial of the soldiers was a continuation of efforts to promptly dispose of cases pertaining to violation of the Armed Forces Act, in the course of the ongoing military operations in the northeast.

The president of the general court-martial trying the accused soldiers is Brigadier-General N. S. Yusuf.

Members of the general court-martial are Col Abubakar, Col Muktar Gwoza, Col Godwin Anayo Ugwueze, Col Abubakar Kabir Mohammed, Col Mohammed Lawan Ibrahim and Col Umar Ibrahim Mohammed.

The judge advocate, Lt Col Ukpe Ukpe, swore in the members and the president, while the lead defence counsel is Femi Falana.

After the court was sworn in and constituted to begin trial, Yusuf announced that 97 persons were on trial for offences bordering on mutiny, indiscipline, unprofessional conduct, absence without leave and assault.

He said the court would try the accused fairly, adding that no innocent person would be wrongfully convicted.

“It is better for nine guilty persons to be set free than for one innocent person to be convicted,” he said.

“All the lawyers must be given unhindered access to their clients.”

Femi Falana, who is representing 68 soldiers, told TheCable that was expecting justice to be served.

“I have no cause to doubt the integrity of the members of the court,” Falana said.

“I have taken part in a number of courts of this nature before. There is no cause for alarm. The president of the court has assured the accused that justice will be done.”

The trial will continue on October 15.