A brigadier-general and 14 other top military officers are believed to be currently facing military tribunal at the Ikeja Military Cantonment, Lagos.
The military trial is part of the gale of court-martialling sweeping through the Nigerian army as it struggles to rev up its war against Boko Haram extremists.
The specifics of the offence which the officers are being charged for is not clear as at press time, but a top military officer confided in our correspondent that it might be related to negligence in the army’s campaign against the terrorist group Boko
Haram in the North East of the country.
The court-martial, analysts say marks a clear departure from recent trials in the military that have primarily involved non-commissioned officers.
Fifty-four soldiers from the 111 Special Forces battalion attached to the 7 division of the army were last week found guilty of mutiny and sentenced to death by firing squad.
The soldiers were accused of disobeying a direct order from their superior officers to take part in an operation to dislodge Boko Haram fighters from Delwa, Bulabulin and Damboa in Borno State and recapture the towns from the terrorists.
The soldiers said they refused to take part in the operation because the army did not provide them with the required combat and support equipment need for such operations.
Also, in September, 12 soldiers were sentenced to death by firing squad for shooting at a car conveying their commanding officer, Maj-Gen. Ahmed Mohammed.
They were found guilty of inciting mutiny against the GOC at the army’s 7 Division, Maimalari Barracks in Maiduguri, on May 14 and also sentenced to life in jail for criminal conspiracy and attempt to commit murder.
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