Boko Haram: Read the shocking details of one Nigerian army general’s cowardice
– A Nigerian army brigadier general who was imprisoned for cowardice may soon be released.
– Enitan Ransome-Kuti will be demoted and sent back to the frontline against Boko Haram.
– He was convicted after failing to perform his duty during a battle against the terrorists in 2014.
The Nigerian army council has recommended the release and demotion of Enitan Ransome-Kuti, the former commander of the Multi National Joint Task Force who was recently convicted by a military court and sentenced to six months imprisonment.
The council also recommended that Ransome-Kuti should be reabsorbed into service and deployed to the frontline.
Ransome-Kuti, formerly a brigadier general and the son of one of Nigeria’s greatest human rights defenders Beko Ransome-Kuti, was sentenced by a special court martial on October 15, 2015.
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He was punished for cowardly behaviour and for failure to perform his duty after Boko Haram militants overran a heavily fortified military base in Baga on January 3, 2015.
The terrorists took over the base’s armory, leading to weapons going missing after the battle.
After his conviction and imprisonment, his lawyer Femi Falana demanded his release pending the determination of his appeal, a request which was turned down by the military authorities.
Ransome-Kuti had a distinguished career before being convicted of cowardice
On Monday, Falana petitioned the army authorities demanding his client’s freedom, saying that Ransome-Kuti was still held in prison custody despite completing his jail term.
He insisted Mr. Ransome-Kuti was unjustly convicted by the court martial.
“As the findings of the Special Court Martial are subject to the confirmation of the appropriate authority we made a strong representation to the Army Council on behalf of our client,” Falana said.
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“We also requested the authorities of the Nigerian army to release our client from military custody pending the determination of the appeal which he intended to file against the unjust findings of the special court martial.”
Falana said the army’s refusal to release his client was a violation of Section 160 of the Armed Forces Act (Cap A20) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The former general was convicted after a fierce battle against Boko Haram
“Thus, you caused our client to serve the six month prison term without the confirmation of the findings of the special court martial by the army council,” the lawyer said.
“As if that was not enough, you have ignored our demand for the release of our client since he completed the six month prison term on February 15, 2016.”
The Nigerian army has thus far not commented on the brigadier general’s case
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