Soldier sentenced to death for murder

Army personnel, Lance corporal Hillary Joel has been sentenced to death for murder by the special tribunal set up to try soldiers and officers running afoul of the law within the lafia dole theatre.

Pronouncing the sentence, chairman of the special tribunal set up to deal with wrong doings by soldiers, Brigadier General Olusegun Adeniyi said that the sentence of the convicted soldier is subject to ratification by the Army authorities.

Four others were equally sentenced for their roles in violating Human rights and sections of the army act while carrying out their duties in the lafia Dole theatre of operation.

The Lance corporal was said to have committed murder during a “cordon and search operations” in Damboa when he touched a man he suspected to be boko haram causing the fire to kill him.

But later the deceased was found not guilty with no links to boko haram; the local civilians of the JTF in Damboa who were at the scene of the incident, quenched the fire and took him to the hospital but he died in the process.

Another soldier Sergeant Balanga Samuel, who was convicted had his rank reduced to Lance Corporal, for the first count and then to private for his second offence.

Private Chima Daniel another first offender was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment also subject to confirmation for beating a minor Yakubu Isa who subsequently died as a result of the assault.

Chima Daniel was sent to the gulag for a charge of aiding and abetting murder of a thirteen year old minor committed 17th February at sector two Zabamari area.

His case was witnessed by the Human rights commission’s Jumai Meshelia and two others who were involved in the prosecution together with the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA.

For Lance Corporal Audu Aliyu his rank was reduced to private, while Trooper Sunday Ogwuche also a first offender was given five years imprisonment and two years’ imprisonment, for the two charges against him all to run concurrently.

Ogwuche was charged for unlawful possession of a weapon and stealing of a phone, making it two charges.

A directive for two of the soldiers to be released from military custody was given by the chair of the tribunal but the judge advocate warned that they will go down to their demotion as soon as the directive is given by the Army authorities.

Sunday Ogwuche was arraigned 9th September, 2014 for unlawful possession of fire arms punishable under the laws of Nigeria. Was found with a weapon, guilty of two counts, guilty as charged.

Representative of the National Human rights Commission Jumai Meshelia while addressing the court expressed gratitude to the authorities of the Army for doing its best on the basic right of civilians and soldiers also.

She called on the Army to train and retrain their officers and men on the silent aspects of basic human rights of the people while respecting the rules of engagement in the theatre.