Lieutenant Colonel Ojebo Baba-Ochankpa, one of the officers controversially dismissed by the Nigerian Army for alleged partisanship in the 2015 general elections is dead.

The Lieutenant Colonel died while waiting for justice after he and other affected officers petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to the brother of the late officer, Paul Ochankpa, the deceased went to bed hale on Monday but died before dawn on Tuesday.

It was gathered that the officer died in the United Kingdom where he had been since last year studying for a Master’s degree at Coventry University while awaiting redress for his unjust dismissal.

Mr. Ochankpa was one of the 38 officers compulsorily retired by the Army Council in June 2015. He was dismissed without any query, trial or indictment, and the President from whom he sought redress in accordance with the law, did not act on his petition for months.

Although specific reasons for their retirement were not stated in their compulsory retirement letters, the Army spokesperson, Sani Usman, a brigadier-general, hinted that the officers were fired on the grounds of arms procurement fraud and professional misconduct in the 2015 elections.

Mr. Ochankpa, former commanding officer, 343 Air Defence Artillery Regiment, Elele, Rivers State, was accused of partisanship in the 2015 elections.

After the issuance of the compulsory retirement, Mr. Ochankpa and 21 other affected officers separately exploited the window provided by Paragraph 09.02(e) of the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service for Officers to petition President Muhammadu Buhari, seeking reinstatement.

Their petitions were transmitted to the Presidency in July 2016 by the Chief of Defence Staff. Seven months after, none of the petitioners has received response from Mr. Buhari, leaving their fates hanging in the balance.

Mr. Ochankpa died Tuesday while still awaiting presidential action on his appeal.