23rd November, 2016
One of the suspended officers, Maj. Usman Inya was found guilty of abandoning his blocking position against Boko Haram terrorists in Tukumbere village near Bits in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno.
Inya was sentenced to 15 months forfeiture of his seniority on the rank of Major for the crime.
For a similar offence, Major Muhammad Bello was sentenced to two months forfeiture of his seniority of the rank of Major.
Also Captain Christopher Leche was sentenced to two years forfeiture of seniority on the rank of captain for the same offence.
The court also sentenced an army private, Macdonald Chukwu, to 18 months imprisonment for unlawful possession of 89 ammunition while on a pass.
The President of the court, Brig.-Gen. Olusegun Adeniyi, gave the verdict at a sitting in Maiduguri on Tuesday.
Adeniyi said that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt that the convict committed the offence, contrary to the Armed Forces Act.
“We looked at both punishment provided by both Section 57 sub-section one of the Armed Forces Cap Laws as well as Section 119 of the Armed Forces Act Laws.
“The court, hereby, sentences you to 18 months imprisonment subject to confirmation by the confirming authority as provided for by Section 141 (2) of the Armed Forces Cap Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.
Adeniyi said that the court considered the need to maintain discipline in the Operation Lafiya Dole Theater with the ongoing war against terrorism.
The prosecutor had told the court that the convict was arrested in May at a motor park.
He was said to have been trying to travel out of the state with the ammunition concealed in his bag.