#InTheNews: Again, Five More Soldiers Charged And Arraigned For Mutiny

Wednesday, 22 October 2014

#InTheNews: Again, Five More Soldiers Charged And Arraigned For Mutiny

Five more soldiers were on Tuesday arraigned for mutiny by army authorities before a General Court Martial at the Abacha Barracks in Abuja. They were accused of conspiring to incite other personnel of 81 Batallion to commit mutiny at Gubio Base Camp, Maiduguri on September 13 and 14, 2014, and were also said to have on the same days and location fired sporadically, abandoned weapons and made instigating comments and acts which intended to incite solders of 81 Batallion to mutiny.

The accused are Lance Corporals Bankole Taiwo, Ayodele Olawale, Sule Ochehepo, Isaiah Olofu Adebayo Gbenga who all belong to the 81 Batallion of 7 Division of the Nigerian Army. They committed an offence of conspiracy which was said to be punishable under section 97(1) of Penal Code Cap P89 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2014, while the offence of mutiny was said to be punishable under section 521(1)(b) of the Armed Forces Act CAP A20 LFN, 2004.

The charge sheet which was dated September 19, 2014 and made available by a military source, showed that the charges preferred against the five newly arraigned soldiers were signed by the Commander of the Army Headquarters Garrison, Brig. Gen. B.T. Ndiomu, who is also the convening authority for the court.

The charges read, “Count 1: Criminal conspiracy to commit mutiny triable by Court Martial by virtue of section 114 of the AFA CAP A20 LFN 2004 and punishable under 97(1) of Penal Code Cap P89 LFN, 2004. “Particulars of offence: In that your on or about 13 and 14, September 2014 at Gubio Base Camp, Maiduguri conspired to incite other personnel of 81 Bn to commit mutiny. “Count 2: Mutiny punishable under section 52(1)(b) of the AFA CAP A20 LFN 2004.

“Particulars of offence: In that you on or about September 13 and 14 at Gubio Base Camp, Maiduguri fired sporadically, abandoned weapons and made instigating comments and acts which intended to incite soldiers of 81 Bn to mutiny against the authority of 7 Division of the Nigerian Army.”

The soldiers were said to have pleaded not guilty to the two counts of mutiny and conspiracy to commit.