Twenty-five soldiers and an officer from various units within the 82 Division are now being court-martialed for various infractions in the Nigerian Army’s 82 Division.
The personnel on trial include those whose jurisdiction includes the entire south-east region and Cross River.
Major General Hassan Dada, General Officer Commanding 82 Division, said during the court martial‘s inauguration that the court martial is one of the vehicles used by the military to instill discipline in its personnel and that the accused remained innocent until proven otherwise after going through the court martial and being given a fair hearing.
“Let me assure you that this court-martial will be guided by the principle of natural justice and fair hearing as encapsulated in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended and other extant laws and procedures related to your trial,” he went on to say.
“The court is free from any external influences, and we will ensure adequate time and facilities to ensure you defend yourselves.”
The GOC urged defence counsel to avoid undue adjournment, which would cause the cases to drag on.
Colonel Usman Ahmad presided over the court martial, which had ten members. It also includes a Judge Advocate, Captain S.A. Sadiq, who will keep the panel informed as the proceedings go.
