Activist kicks, as Army commutes death sentence on soldiers to jail

…Activist demands freedom for Ransome-Kuti, others

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NIGERIA: REPRIEVE has come the way of 66 soldiers who were sentenced to death by a military court.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, has ordered that the death by firing squad verdict should be commuted to 10 years imprisonment for each of the indicted soldiers.

But a human rights activist, Princess Judith Omolara Desalu-Ogunmuyiwa, has kicked against the reduction of the sentence, saying that instead the soldiers should be freed.

Desalu-Ogunmuyiwa, who described herself as “representative for the voiceless citizen of the world on equal rights and justice,” said she disagreed with the charges of mutiny preferred against the soldiers.

According to the activist, who also called for the reverse of the punishment on the dismissed Brigadier General Enitan Ransome-Kuti, son of the late human rights activist, Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti, said that the punitive measures were not justified at all, while further stressing that “this case should be discharged and acquitted.”

“This case has no ground rather the rights of the soldiers were violated,” Desalu-Ogunmuyiwa said on her Facebook regarding the soldiers, who included Ransome-Kuti, who was last October dismissed from the Army and sentenced to six months’ imprisonment for losing a major battle that led to Boko Haram killing hundreds of civilians.

It would be recalled that 66 of the 71 soldiers were found guilty, among others, of conspiracy to commit munity, disobedience to particular orders, criminal conspiracy, false accusation and insubordination.

The remaining five soldiers were discharged and acquitted, and prior in the year some soldiers dismissed for similar offences were reabsorbed and posted to different parts of the army formations.

The change of heart, a statement signed by acting Army image maker, Col. Sani Usman, said came about after series of petitions were forwarded to Buratai from the soldiers and on their behalves.

Buratai, who gave the directive in the statement, said that the 10 years would run concurrently, adding that the issues of others soldiers in similar punitive situations were under review by the Army high command.
“Following series of petitions, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, ordered for a legal review of the cases and the directive was carried out to examine the merit of each case,” the statement said, adding: “It was on the basis of the review and recommendations that the Chief of Army Staff commuted the death sentences of the 66 soldiers to 10 years imprisonment which are to run concurrently.”

It added: “The cases of other soldiers are being reviewed and will be made public once the appropriate reviews are completed.’’

However, in her fierce campaign calling for the freedom of the soldiers, Desalu-Ogunmuyiwa, who is the founder of Solutions to Poverty Organisation, tasked President Muhammadu Buhari, his Vice, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and Buratai to free the soldiers.
“What is ‘mutiny’ definition, revolt or rebellion against constituted authority,” she queried, while further asking: “Who are the authority? Former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, who failed to provide them with ‘ammunitions’ to execute their duties?  Or the former President Goodluck (Jonathan), who send (sic) his men on suicide mission to fight Boko Haram?”

It would be recalled that before the exit of ex-President Jonathan, under whose administration the soldiers were

found guilty, Desalu-Ogunmuyiwa had taken on the Senate and House of Representatives, accusing them of not doing their jobs in the interest of the nation over the condemned soldiers.

The activist had lambasted the federal lawmakers thus: “Lack of proper system within the fat House of Senate and Rep (sic) in Nigeria is not helping the democratic system of the nation at all.

“Why is the nation wasting such much fund paying all these Senators and Reps salary if they can’t understand nor execute their jobs?”

“With immediate effect all Senators and Reps should be in hot water for not investigating this case thoroughly especially the competent (sic) of the commander. Why he made decision that caused such casualty of his men?” Desalu-Ogunmuyiwa queried.

She declared: “As an advocate for human rights no to death penalty.  President Goodluck as commander in chief should look into this case.”

• Story by Femi Shodunke