Soldiers Convicted Over Sale Of Arms To MEND

From AGAJU MADUGBA, Kaduna

An Army Court Martial sitting in Kaduna has sentenced an officer, Major Suleiman Alabi Akubo, to life imprisonment over illegal dealing in arms. While five other soldiers also received the same sentence after the court found them guilty during its sitting on Tuesday.
Those convicted persons are Sergeant Matthias Peters, Lance Corporal Alexander Davou, Lance Corporal Moses Nwaigwe, Lance Corporal Nnamdi Anene and Private Caleb Bawa.
Two other soldiers, Kola David and Aliyu Mohammed, who were equally charged with the same offence were demoted  from their current rank of corporal to private.
The convicts were arraigned and charged with selling stolen various military weapons between January 2000 and December 2006 from the depots of the Nigerian Army located at the Command and Staff College, Jaji and the One Base Ordnance, Kaduna.
They allegedly sold the weapons to the Niger Delta militant group, MEND, through one Sunny Owei Okah, a younger brother of the leader of the  group.
Okah is currently standing trial at a civil court in Jos, Plateau State over alleged gun running.
Before giving his verdict, the President of the 10-man court martial, Brig. Gen. Bala Usara, summerised arguments of both the prosecution and defence.
Some of the charges are, civil offence to wit: criminal conspiracy punishable under Section 97 (1) (1) of the Penal Code and triable in a court martial by virtrue of Section 114 (1) of the Armed Forces Act Cap A20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
“Criminal breach of trust punishable under Section 215 of the Penal Code and triable in a court martial by virtue of section 114 (1) of the Armed Forces Act Cap A20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
“Criminal conspiracy punishable under Section 971 of the Penal Code and triable in a court martial by virtue of Section 114 (1) of the Armed Forces Act Cap A20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.