By Suleiman Adamu, Sokoto
The General Officer Commanding , 8 Division of the Nigerian Army, Sokoto, Major General U.U. Bassey on Wednesday inaugurated a 12 member General Court Marshal for the trial of 68 officers and soldiers accused for various offences during Operation Hadarin Daji with a call on the Court to ensure truth prevailed in the principles of fair hearing based on merit.
The 12 members Court Marshal has Col. Clement Iyere as its President.
General Bassey stressed that the Court must ensure that truth prevailed by evaluating all evidences on their merits.
According to the GOC during the inauguration at the newly commissioned Lt.General T.Y.Buratai Giginya Barracks Auditorium, Sokoto said those for the trial were serving personnel and should be treated with every sense of decorum and fairness.
He assured that the Court Marshal would be guided by the principles of natural justice as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution as amended and in accordance with extant laws which will be free from external influence or interference.
” The proceedings will be in accordance with the cardinal principles of criminal justice.”
General Bassey who is the Commander of the Northwest Operation Hadarin Daji JTF further urged the Court to ensure speedy trial and justice was achieved while appealing to defence counsel to avoid unnecessary
spilling of adjournment inorder to avoid delay, adding that ” it is said that justice delayed, is justice denied.
Meanwhile, the defence counsel Barrister Godwin Uwadiae said he was confident that the Court will do justice to the accused” from the inaugural speech of the GOC, I am hopeful of a fair trial.
” Although, my worries are that lot of them over stayed in detention without trial. Some 18 months, 7 months, even some 2 years which our constitution forbids. They should have been moved to their respective units on bail. Except for those who commit homicide or armed robbery offences which is punishable by death. Anyway, I will make efforts to see the GOC who is the convener for some clarifications”, he said.
