See Why Ex-Army Chiefs Support Death Penalty Verdict For 12 Soldiers

Ex-Army Chiefs Support Death Penalty Verdict For 12 Soldiers

 

A number of retired senior Nigerian military officers support the death penalty imposed on the 12 soldiers of the Army for their participation in the May 2014 Maiduguri mutiny.

Photo taken on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2014 in Abuja. Unidentified military prosecutors sit in the front row. Behind them are seated soldiers accused of mutiny before a court-martial (Photo credit: AP)

Speaking to Sunday Punch, former Commandant of the Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Brig.-Gen. Williams Obene (retd.), commended the Army for following the laws, thus upholding discipline. He noted that politiciams and prominent, influential Nigerians trying to interfere in the daily administration of the military only make things “difficult”. This, he said, occurs too often “under democracy.”

Justifying the death penalty, a former Adjutant-General of the Nigerian Army, Major General David Jemibewon (retd.), also a former Minister of Police Affairs, said the court-martial have based their decision on the available facts and evidence.

“The military does not operate on sentiments or on people expressing either sympathy or lack of sympathy,” he said. “It is difficult for me to align with people calling for clemency or pardon.”

Colonel Anthony Nyiam (rtd.) was one of the officers who received t death penalty from the regime of former head of state, Ibrahim Babangida. “The worst thing a soldier can do is to mutiny,”  he said. “And the penalty, as the law says, should be served. If you interrupt the traditions of the military, you’re interfering with the foundations.”

A former military administrator of Bauchi and Osun states, Col. Theophilus Bamigboye (retd.), also backed the death penalty. “I will not want anybody to die,” he said, “but we are talking of military procedure, which has to be followed.”

Ealier, the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Olajide Laleye, insisted that the military had handled the matter in line with stipulated procedures and despite contrary public opinion. He also reminded that the approval of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah, is still needed before carrying out the death penalty.

It seems that the overwhelming majority of Nigerians plead to temper justice with mercy and replace the death penalty with less terminal punishment.

Thirteen of the eighteen Nigerian Army soldiers were on September 15 found guilty of various offences. In mid-May, they, apparently aggrieved by the death of their comrades-in-arms from the hands of Boko Haram, fired shots at their General Officer Commanding. Thus, they were court-martialled and found guilty of mutiny, criminal conspiracy, attempted murder, insubordination and false accusation.
Twelve of the convicted soldiers were sentenced to death, five were discharged and acquitted, while the remaining one was jailed for 28 days of hard labour.
Those sentenced to death are Jasper Braidolor, David Musa, Friday Onuh, Yusuf Shuaibu, Igonmu Emmanuel, Andrew Ugbede, Nurudeen Ahmed, Ifeanyi Alukagba, Alao Samuel, Amadi Chukwuma, Alan Linus, and Stephen Clement.