Mutiny: 27 Soldiers Get Life Sentence

Twenty-seven out of the 28 soldiers  standing trial on  mutiny charge at the 323 Army Artillery Regiment, Owena Barrack, Akure, Ondo State capital were yesterday sentenced to life imprisonment by the Military Court Martial presided over by Brigadier- General Ishaya Bauka.
The remaining accused, Private Bala Aliyu,  was, however, discharged and acquitted by the court because the prosecution could not prove the case against him beyond reasonable doubt.
The 28 soldiers were arraigned before the court martial following their protest on July 5, 2008 over non-payment of their foreign mission allowances having served in the NIBAT 15 Peace Keeping Mission in Liberia between August 2007 and April 2008.
The convicted soldiers made up  of one sergeant, three corporals, 12 lance corporals and 11 privates including three ladies, were drawn from different military formations across the country for the peace-keeping mission.
On the day of the protest, the soldiers blocked the major Ondo-Akure Road for several hours when they were told that the money available would not be enough to pay their allowances and that they should take what was available as the balance would be paid the following week.
The convicted soldiers include Sergeant Akwara Oliver, Corporals Princewell Onwunare,  Paul Maikudi,  Abass Salisu, Lance Corporals Okani Pope,  Lawal Abubakar,  Pascal Stephen, John Felix,  Yomi Ibukun,   Loveday Mmapie,  Umar Abdulkadir,  Musa Salisu, and  Innocent Egbuna
Others convicted by the court martial are: Lance Corporals Wanogho Shedrack, Bello Zaharaeed,  Chukwuda Onwukanjo, Privates Jonathan Komo, Samuel Ogbe,  Nkawor Esther,  Mary Idoko,  Olanihun Yetunde,  Anthogan Jonathan,  Salisu Ibrahim,  Aderaloye Olalekan, Kabiru Mohammed and  Anukan Kelechi.
The court which read the role  each of the convicted soldiers played during the protest said the soldiers were found guilty of the mutiny charge punishable by life imprisonment in accordance with the provision of Section 52 Sub Section 12 of the Military Act.
Bauka, who read the judgment, said the action of the convicted soldiers who disobeyed the order of the Commanding Officer, Lt Col Godwin Omelo, that they should line up and be orderly constituted indiscipline capable of putting the army in imminent danger.
The court president said the prosecution, which painstakingly went through the roles played by each of the convicts, their oral and written statements as well as all evidences brought against them proved the cases against them beyond reasonable doubt.
A case was that of Okani Pope, who was said to have stoned the Commanding Officer and was reported to have said he would still do more if given the chance.
Reacting to the plea of the defence counsel, Mr Morakinyo Ogele, that the earlier punishment of  four officers in January this year had actually justified the action of the convicts, Bauka said the officers were not charged for the same offence with the soldiers.
According to him, the officers were charged for negligence and wrong posting of fund and conspiracy to steal.
He said though the court had established that the convicts were first offenders, but the law must take its course to serve as deterrent to others as the action of the convicts constituted imminent danger to discipline which is the foundation of the army.
‘‘Service discipline demand absolute loyalty and obedience to a superior order given in right manner as done by the Commanding Officer and who was disobeyed by the convicts,” he said.
Bauka, however, said the sentences of the convicts are subject to confirmation by the appropriate military authorities.
The counsel to the convicts, Morakinyo Ogele, said the soldiers would appeal the judgment.

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=142000

I was just about posting this same topic. all because they were trying to claim their rights. Corruption is everywhere in Nigeria.

all because they were trying to have a voice and neglected their duties what about the soldiers that raped and tortured women in Lagos not too long ago? are they going to let them go without even a slap on the wrist. _{when the hell am i going to get this country?}