Court martial condemns soldier, jails five others for murder

The Nigerian Army 7 Division Court Martial has sentenced Pvt. Azunna Mmadu-Abuchi to death and jailed five others for assault and murder. Mmadu-Abuchi of 212 Battalion shot and killed Lt. Babakaka Ggorgi on July 29, 2020 in Bama, Borno State.

It slammed jail terms of one to three years on Sgt. Sani Ishaya, one LCpl. Fabiyi as well as Pvts. Adamu Abdulrasheed and Musa Bala. However, LCpl. Aja Emmanuel was demoted to Private for assaulting Rahman Abdalla with his belt in Maiduguri.

Delivering the judgment yesterday at the Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri, President of the Court, Brig-Gen. Arikpo Ekubi, said: “For the offence of murder is suffer of death, as provided under Section 106 of the Armed Forces Act. This sentence is to be carried out by firing squad. May God have mercy on your soul?”

According to him, the sentences are subject to confirmation by the appropriate Nigerian authority as provided under Section 151 (1b) and Section 152 Armed Forces Act, 2004.

He said the soldiers conducted themselves in an unprofessional manner, which is totally unacceptable to the army.

“When you took the laws into your hands by beating Peter Okogu in Maiduguri, you committed an offence of assault,” he said, adding that the army had always, particularly in the last three years, focused on the protection of the fundamental rights of every citizen. This was why human rights desks were established across military formations in Nigeria, he stressed.