Military Inaugurates Court Marshall For Soldiers Detained For Several Years Without Trial In Northeast
A Court Marshall has been inaugurated to try soldiers fighting Boko Haram insurgents accused of sundry offences in Borno State.
A Court Marshall has been inaugurated to try soldiers fighting Boko Haram insurgents accused of sundry offences in Borno State.
Speaking shortly after the inauguration on Wednesday, at 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maiduguri, Borno State, the President of the Court Marshall, Brig Gen M.A Abdullahi, warned Counsel for both the prosecution and defence that he would not tolerate unnecessary delays.
This was even as Brig. Gen Abdullahi has ordered the prosecuting counsel to adjust to a date not later than a week following their request for next March to enable them prepare their cases well, adding he would not have any date beyond one week.
According to him, "there will be no delay during the trials.
Abdullahi promised justice and fairness for the accused persons noting that both the prosecuting and defense counsel must avoid unnecessary prolonging of issues as it will not be tolerated.
Some of the accused soldiers had spent between over two years and five years in Military Police detention camps without trial.
Meanwhile, out of about 142 soldiers being detained by the Military Police over sundry offences, only about 62 are still remaining following the release of several suspects as a result of media attention on the inmates and intervention of the legal team.
Some of them were actually sent to prison while a handful of others were released to their units for court marshalling.
Sources told the SaharaReporters that most of detainees have been in the theatre of war for over six years without fresh hands being brought in to change positions with them and had developed war fatigue.
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