Army court-martials 68 officers, soldiers

The General Officer Commanding (GOC) for 8 Division of the Nigerian Army in Sokoto, Maj.- Gen. U. U. Bassey, yesterday inaugurated a 12-member General Court-Martial for the trial of 68 officers and soldiers accused of committing various offences while on duty during Operation Hadarin Daji.

Gen. Bassey urged the court to ensure fair hearing in the course of the trial.

The court-martial has Col. Clement Iyere as its President.

Gen. Bassey said the military court must ensure that truth prevails by evaluating all evidences on their merits.

The GOC, who performed the inauguration of the court-martial at the newly commissioned Lt.-Gen. T. Y. Buratai Giginya Barracks Auditorium in Sokoto, said those to be put on trial were serving personnel who had committed certain offences against the military authorities and the country.

But he pleaded that they should be treated with every sense of decorum and fairness.

Gen. Bassey assured the affected officers and soldiers that the court-martial would be guided by principles of natural justice, as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and according to extant laws. Nation