Boko Haram: 30 Top Army Officers for Trial

Thirty top Army officers are to face military court-martial over their conduct in the ongoing war against terrorism, PREMIUM TIMES reported on Monday.

One of the officers, Brigadier General Enitan Ransome-Kuti, may be related to music maestro, the late Fela Anikulapo Kuti.

Military authorities neither confirmed nor denied the report when contacted by the Daily Times over the report.

Text messages to the Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Usman, and the Director of Defence Information (DDI), Major General Christopher Olukolade were not responded to at press time.

The online newspaper reported sighting an Army internal memo to that effect, dated March 11, 2015.

The memo directed the 30 officers to proceed to the Army Headquarters Garrison in Abuja to face a judicial panel, according to the report.

They were instructed to depart their current posts and head for the garrison for “jurisdiction”.

Although the specific offences of each of the officers were not stated, the online newspaper quoted military insiders as saying that it had to do “with their conduct in the fight against the Boko Haram extremist group.”

General Ransome-Kuti is the commander of the Multi National Joint Task Force, who has been blamed for the loss of Baga in January.

With his chief of staff, Lieutenant Colonel GA Suru and some other senior officers, Ransome-Kuti was arrested for failing to repel terrorists attack on the headquarters of the MNJTF.

The posting was signed by the releasing officer, Military Secretary, II Abba, a Major General.

The 30 senior officers are:

1. Brigadier General EA Ransome-Kuti, from MNJTF to AHQ garrison for jurisdiction
2. Colonel OC Ajunwa from MNJTF to AHQ garrison for jurisdiction
3. Lieutenant Colonel UG Yusuf from 202 Battalion to AHQ garrison for jurisdiction
4. Lieutenant Colonel A Haruna from 134 Battalion to AHQ garrison for jurisdiction
5. Lieutenant Colonel MO Eteng from 174 battalion to AHQ garrison for jurisdiction
6. Lieutenant Colonel MY Lawal from HQ CAR to AHQ garrison for jurisdiction
7. Lieutenant Colonel JO Ememe from 21 SERV to AHQ garrison for jurisdiction
8. Lieutenant Colonel HM Bukar from HQ 7 Division to AHQ garrison for jurisdiction
9. Lieutenant Colonel GA Suru from MNJTF to AHQ garrison for jurisdiction
10. Major AA Malgwi from MNJTF to AHQ garrison for jurisdiction
11. Major C Amah from OTD to AHQ garrison for jurisdiction
12. Major N Akpagher from 243 battalion to AHQ garrison for jurisdiction
13. Captain EE Ayegba from 101 DES to AHQ garrison for jurisdiction
14. Captain BT Bamisaiye from 525 SR to AHQ garrison for jurisdiction
15. Captain CU Okereke from AHQ DO G to AHQ garrison for jurisdiction
16. Captain EO Ogundile from STF (OP Safe Haven) to AHQ garrison for jurisdiction
17. Captain F Abajah from 134 battalion to AHQ garrison for jurisdiction
18. Captain UJ Atumeyi from 241 battalion to AHQ garrison for jurisdiction
19. Captain RG Mohammed from NASI to AHQ garrison for jurisdiction
20. Captain DY Chiwar from 174 battalion to AHQ garrison for jurisdiction
21. Captain P Dangnap from 174 battalion to AHQ garrison for jurisdiction
22. Captain JA Maku from 174 battalion to AHQ garrison for jurisdiction
23. Captain EU Omatighene from S1 list (UNAMID) to AHQ garrison for jurisdiction
24. Captain BE Alfred from MNJTF to AHQ garrison for jurisdiction
25. Lieutenant AA Tijjani from 541 BS to AHQ garrison for jurisdiction
26. Lieutenant GM Gomo from MNJTF to AHQ garrison for jurisdiction
27. Lieutenant AV Chijioke from 174 battalion to AHQ garrison for jurisdiction
28. Second Lieutenant IS Mekwunye from 149 battalion to AHQ garrison for jurisdiction
29. Lieutenant AJS Gulani (posting amended to read AHQ garrison for jurisdiction)
30. Major ES Okore (posting amended to read AHQ garrison for jurisdiction