Besides, the military is to begin a fresh Court Marshal of soldiers from the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army in Maiduguri, Borno State on mutiny charges tomorrow.
The soldiers from 7 Division stationed in Maimalari Barracks in Maiduguri, Borno State were sentenced for protesting the alleged killing of their colleagues in an ambush by the Boko Haram and allegedly shot at the Division’s General Officer Commanding (GOC), Major General Ahmadu Mohammed.
In a joint statement yesterday by Commu-nications Officer Esther Akpa, Lawyers With-out Borders and Amnesty International urged President Goodluck Jonathan to exercise his prerogative of mercy to commute the death sentences.
The human rights organisations said the death penalty violates the right to life as proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and that the death penalty is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment.
The statement regrets that Nigeria is among the five African Union countries that still enforce the death penalty despite a resolution of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Resolution 136, 24 November 2008) calling on member states to put in place a moratorium on the death penalty.
On the fresh court martial, Daily Trust learnt that the General Court Marshal which was initially scheduled for inauguration yesterday at the Army Headquarters Garrison, Mogadishu Cantonment Abuja was postponed.
A lawyer to some of the accused who does not want his name in print confirmed that the Court Marshal was scheduled to begin yesterday (Tuesday) but was postponed to tomorrow.
He said Defence lawyers gathered early in the morning at the Mogadisghu Cantonment only to be informed by the legal unit of the Garrison that the Court Marshal would not hold.
He added that the soldiers who are about 60 in number would be represented by lawyers from Falana and Falana Chambers and his own group of five lawyers.
A top military source also said the court martial will be inaugurated tomorrow.
A General Court Marshal headed by Brigadier General Chukuemeka Okonkwo on September 15 had sentenced to death 12 out of 18 soldiers for mutiny and other offenses.
The convicted soldiers were charged with mutiny against the former General Officer Commanding the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Ahmed Mohammed.
