The Presidential panel of investigation to review compliance of the armed forces with human rights obligations and rules of engagement has fixed today for ruling on the application of some military officers convicted and sentenced to various categories of punishment by various courts martial.
The soldiers, including a former Commander of the Multi-National Joint Task Force, Enitan Ransome-Kuti, who was demoted from the rank of Brigadier-General to Colonel, appealed to the panel to hear their complaints against the Nigerian Army.
Others include Lt.-Col. A.O Ojo, who was dismissed by the Nigerian Army for alleged negligence of duties; and 54 soldiers who said they were illegally tried and convicted by the court martial for demanding weapons for counter-insurgency operations in the North-East region.
The rest are Lance Corporals Bankole Taiwo, Ayodele Olawale and Isiah Olofu as well as Private Adebayo Gbenga, who are collectively seeking the review of their conviction.
The Sir Justice Biobele A. Georgewill-led seven-man panel on Monday requested counsels for the parties to prepare a two-page written address citing authorities to prove or disprove the jurisdiction of the panel to hear the matter.
Counsel to the soldiers, Femi Falana (SAN) told the panel yesterday that although there are pending appeals before the Court of Appeal challenging the convictions and the sentences passed on his clients by the courts martial, the appeals do not deny the panel the jurisdiction to hear their petitions.
However, in his response, the Nigerian Army’s lawyer, Ogbeni Biola Oyebanji urged the panel to refuse to hear the soldiers’ complaints. He said the “limited” scope of the panel’s terms of reference did not give room for entertaining such complaints.
The panel will also continue with the Moon Village petition against the Nigerian Army today. The petitioners called eight further witnesses to prove their case against the Nigerian Army with two additional witnesses to be called today.
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