UNLAWFUL ASSAULT: SOLDIER GETS DEMOTION, THREE YEARS IMPRISONMENT
The
military Court Martial seating in Maiduguri has sentenced one Staff Sergeant
Umar Sule to three years in prison over unlawful assault on a ten year old in
Maiduguri.
The
convicted soldier was also demoted from the rank of a staff sergeant to a
private soldier.
The Nation recalls that the Acting General
Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division, Brigadier General Victor Ezugwu on Wednesday August 10, 2016, set
up a General Court Martial to try four officers and 16 soldiers
for various offences ranging from criminal sales of arms to
non-military persons as well as abuse of human rights in the ongoing war
against Boko Haram in northeast Nigeria.
Brigadier General Ezugwu at the inauguration
said he has to issue a convening order for a General Court
Martial “following the directives from Army Headquarters that a standing GCM be
set up for Operation Lafiya to try offences committed by personnel within the
Theatre of Operation”.
“This GCM is therefore convened to try a
total of 4 officers and 16 other ranks of the Nigeria Army who have committed
various offences within the Theatre of Operation Lafiya Dole”, said the GOC.
Delivering
judgment, the President of the Court Martial Brig. Gen. Gabriel Adeniyi
pronounced his judgment quoting relevant military laws and laws of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria sentenced the convict on two count charges which include
unlawful assault of a minor and disobedience to standing military orders.
The
verdict reads: “Staff Sergeants Umar Sule, having found you
guilty of the charges against you and having listen to the presentation of the
prosecution urging this court to treat you as a first offender and the
counsel’s touching plea to litigation, we have also look at the various
punishment provided by both section 104 of sub section 2d of armed forces act
cap A 20 laws of the federation 2004 as well as section 119 of armed forces act
cap A 20 laws of the federation 2004.
“This
court also considers the need to ensure discipline in the system. This court
hereby sentences you as follows: “On count one; three
years imprisonment. On count two- reduced to private. This sentence is however
subject to confirmation by the confirming authority as provided by section 141
sub-sections 2 and section 152 sub-section 1A of the armed forces act cap A20
law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004”.
Speaking
after the judgment, representative of the Human Right Commission, Barr. Jumai
Usman Mshelia said she is satisfied with the judgment.
According
to her, “I believe that all the parties in this case have gotten justice. This
judgment demonstrates the discipline and transparency of the army that anybody
can get justice no matter who you are, poor or rich,” Barr. Mshelia said.
The father of the boy Usman Mohammed also
said he is satisfied with the judgment. He however called on the government to
assist in the upbringing of the boy whose two hands have now been severed due
to the torture by the convict.
Ten years
old Mohammed Saleh, the victim was said to have been arrested by the soldier
for allegedly stealing his N2000. The demoted soldier according to the father
of the boy tied his hands for more than eight hours which caused serious
injuries to the hand leading to the amputation of one of the hand while the
remaining hand still remains non-Functional.
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