General court marshal sentences soldier to death for killing civilians

The General Court Martial (GCM), sitting in Maiduguri, Borno State, has sentenced a soldier serving in Operation Lafiya Dole, Lance Corporal, John Godwin, to death for murder.

Other soldiers who were equally charged for various offences ranging from manslaughter to illegal possession of fire arms and ammunitions got sentenced too.

Lance Corporal Godwin, was charged with murder of five rescued civilians in Yamteke Town, an office which is punishable under Section 106 (a) of the Armed Forces Acts (Cap A20), Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004.

The civilians were rescued by troops of the soldier’s battalion and were taken in for profiling and further investigation when the soldier shot and killed  the five of them at close range.

Another soldier, Sergeant Innocent Ototo, was also sentenced to life imprisonment for manslaughter after torturing and killing a 13-year-old boy who he  alleged stole his phone.

The incident happened at Maimalari area of Maiduguri metropolis in Borno State.

In the same court, Lance Corporal Benjamin Osage and Private Sunday Onwe were also sentenced to 20 years imprisonment each for offences bordering on manslaughter and illegal possession of fire arms and ammunition.

Delivering the judgement, President of the Court Martial, Brigadier General Gbenga Adesina, said the offences a contrary to Nigerian Army’s Rules of Engagement and also against Nigerian Laws and Geneva Conventions which the country is signatory to and which the Army, as a professional body holds in high esteem.

Apart from the six convicted, several such sentences have been carried out this year, but all have been subjected to the final ratification of the Army High Command before final execution.