Home News South West ECOMOG soldiers'protest:4 officers arraigned
ECOMOG soldiers'protest:4 officers arraigned
Written by Dayo Johnson
Tuesday, 07 October 2008
AKURE — FOUR Army Officers have been arraigned alongside the 28 Soldiers that are currently facing mutiny charges in Akure, the Ondo State capital over protest on the non payment of their allowances after returning from a Peace Keeping Mission in Liberia .
This is coming as the 28 Soldiers yesterday asked the President of the Martial Court Brigadier General Ishaya Bauka and his members to disqualify themselves from the trial on the ground of prejudice.
Also, the former Commanding Officer of the 323 Owena Barracks, Lt Col Godwin Omelo who led the Soldiers to Liberia gave graphic picture and evidence of what led to the protest by the suspects, how he persuaded them to be patient on the mode of payment of the allowances, how they stoned and manhandled him, made bonfire and blocked the streets.
The Four Officers include a Commanding Officer Col A. A Awotoye, Lt Col P.A Baba, Major A.K Shonva and Major C H Chajoku, all finance Officers.
The Finance Officers were charged with negligence and cheating while the Commanding Officer was charged with negligence and stealing.
At the resumption of the trial, Counsel to the accused, Mr. Morakinyo Ogele drew the attention of the President and his members to a statement credited to the President in Sokoto where he was quoted to have said that the 28 soldiers would be punished no matter what for their action.
Ogele pointed out that “If we sit here and continue to blow grammar, the President has made up his mind to punish the suspects not minding whatever anybody says.
“Justice is rooted in confidence and if that confidence is not there the President and members of the court should disqualify themselves from adjudicating on this matter. The President has a predetermined mind even before the hearing of the matter.
“With utmost regards to your individual position in the Army the suspects do not have confidence in the court martial because the President and his members are baised.
But the Prosecuting witness T.S Nurseman said the application was meant to delay the trial and asked the court to discountenance it as a mere hearsay even as he described the statement credited to the President as “fraudulent document meant to frustrate the trial.
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