Army inaugurates special court for soldiers in theatres of operation

Godwin Mutkut, the general officer commanding (GOC) 8 division of the Nigerian Army, has inaugurated a special court martial in Sokoto.

In a statement on Monday, Mutkut, who doubles as the commander of Operation Hadarin Daji, said the court was set up to address various offences committed by soldiers in various theatres of operation across the country.

The commanding officer said like all courts, the special court martial “is established to provide justice not only to the victims of an alleged crime but justice also to the state and to the accused persons”.

He charged the court to evaluate all evidence before it in line with the principles of fairness.

“Decide each case on its merit so as to ensure justice is served to all,” Mutkut said. 

The commanding officer assured personnel standing trial that the court will be guided “throughout the trial by the principles of natural justice and fair hearing as encapsulated in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and other laws and procedures related to their trials”.

He added that the court will be devoid of any external influence and will afford them adequate time and facilities to defend themselves.

Present at the inauguration of the court were senior officers including Kabir Imam, a colonel and the president of the court martial, formation commanders, prosecution and defence counsels, among other dignitaries.