By Victor Akaa, Abuja
The Chief of Army staff has inaugurated General Court Marshal (GCM) for the trial of General Officer Commander (GOC) ,8 Division, Sokoto,Major General Hakeem Otiki over the missing of four hundred million naira (N400m).
The trial panel which consist of top military officers is headed by Lt. General Lamidi Adeosun, chief of policy and plans, Nigeria Army, Major General A. A.Tarfa,training and doctrine command (TRADOC),member, Major General John Malu, commander Nigerian Army engineering corps,member, Major General C. T Olukoju, Director General, Nigerian Army Land Simulation Center, member.
Other members of the panel include Major General CC Okonkwo, special adviser, Nigerian Army University, Biu, Major General Aguguo, Chief of Transformation and Innovation, Nigerian Army, and Major General Mohammed, former GOC 1 division Kaduna.
The president of the tribunal Lt. General Adeosun said, “I Lt. General TY Buratai, by the powers conferred on me as the Chief of Army Staff, Nigerian Army, and pursuant to Section 131 Sub Section 201 of the Armed Forces Act, Cap 20, Laws of Nigeria 2004, hereby convene this General Court Martial to assemble at Army Headquarters Command Mess, Asokoro, Abuja on 17th September”.
Adeosun promised to be unbiased and to be guided by all the relevant laws and guidelines such as the holy books (Bible and the Quran), the Evidence Act, the 1999 constitution of, the federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, as well as the Arm Forces of Nigeria Act 2004.
Those in attendance were prosecuting counsel with it’s legal team headed by Major JS Obot, Majors I Suleiman, and Orumo, as well as a 3 man legal team led by Barr. Okechukwu Ojunwa, Major Femi Oyebunji (rtd) and Mr. Ishaq Adekunle constituting the defence counsel.
