Army authorities again arraigned five more soldiers before a General Court Martial for mutiny at the Abacha Barracks in Abuja on Tuesday.
The soldiers were said to have pleaded not guilty to the two counts of mutiny and conspiracy to commit mutiny.
The accused are Lance Corporals Bankole Taiwo, Ayodele Olawale, Sule Ochehepo, Isaiah Olofu and Adebayo Gbenga.
They all belong to the 81 Battalion of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army.
They were accused of conspiring to incite other personnel of 81 Battalion to commit mutiny at Gubio Base Camp, Maiduguri, on September 13 and 14, 2014.
They were also said to have, on the same days and location, fired sporadically, abandoned their weapons and made instigating comments and acted in ways intended to incite soldiers of 81 Battalion to mutiny.
The offence of conspiracy was said to be punishable under Section 97(1) of Penal Code Cap P89 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2014, while the offence of mutiny was said to be punishable under section 521(1)(b) of the Armed Forces Act CAP A20 LFN, 2004.
Journalists have been barred from further covering the proceedings of the GMC after the commencement of the trial of 59 soldiers for mutiny last week.
However, the charge sheet, dated September 19, 2014, which was made available by a military source, showed that the charges preferred against the five newly-arraigned soldiers were signed by the Commander of the Army Headquarters Garrison, Brig. Gen. B.T. Ndiomu.
Ndiomu is also the convening authority for the court. The charges read, “Count 1: Criminal conspiracy to commit mutiny triable by Court Martial by virtue of section 114 of the AFA CAP A20 LFN 2004 and punishable under 97(1) of Penal Code Cap P89 LFN, 2004.
“Particulars of offence: That you on or about 13 and 14, September 2014 at Gubio Base Camp, Maiduguri, conspired to incite other personnel of 81 Battalion to commit mutiny.
“Count 2: Mutiny punishable under section 52(1)(b) of the AFA CAP A20 LFN 2004.
“Particulars of offence: In that you on or about September 13 and 14 at Gubio Base Camp, Maiduguri fired sporadically, abandoned weapons and made instigating comments and acts which intended to incite soldiers of 81 Battalion to mutiny against the authority of 7 Division of the Nigerian Army.”
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