The Nigeria Army will on January 16, 2015 arraign one brigadier-general and 21 other officers before a General Court Martial in Lagos, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, who is a defence lawyer to some of the soldiers confirmed to The PUNCH on Wednesday.

While the army authorities have yet to release the charges preferred against the accused, The PUNCH learnt that the officers would go on trial for offences they allegedly committed in line of duty while battling insurgents in the North-East zone of the country.

Falana said he had yet to receive the charges against his clients.

The GCM is to hold at the 9 Brigade Officers’ Mess, Ikeja Cantonment, Lagos.

The accused officers include Brig.-Gen. J.O. Komolafe; Colonels A. Laguda, V. Ebhaleme, V.O. Ita, and I.B. Maina.

Others are Colonels I. A Aboi, I.M Kabir, M.H. Abubakar, A. A. Egbejule, N. N. Orok, C. A. Magaji, A.O. Agwu, A.J.S. Gulani, O.O. Obolo and A.M. Adetuyi.

The only Major among the accused officers is M. M. Idris and the others include Captains M Adamu, O. A. Adenaike, M. Gidado, M.M. Clark and S. Raymond.

S.O. Olowa is the only second lieutenant among the officers.

Their arraignment comes on the heels of the amendment of the convening order for the General Court Martial by the General Officer Commanding 81 Division of the Nigeria Army, Maj. Gen. T.I. Dibi, on August 6, 2014.

The amendment of the convening order replaces Brig.-Gen. I. O. Rabiu with Brig.-Gen. A. M. Sabo as the President of the court.

Other members of the panel are four other brigadiers-general – C. O. Ayara, J. C. Egbudom, S. A. Yaro, and J. Sarham.

The order indicated that Brig.-Gen. A. M Aliyu was on the waiting list.

It also nominated Lt. L.B. Berepiki and Warrant Officer Peter Ahmadu as additional prosecution counsel.

Meanwhile, the GCM set up by the Nigerian Army to try three officers and 13 soldiers of the 331 Artillery Regiment, Biu, Borno State, in relation with the April 14, 2014 abduction of the students of Government Secondary School, Chibok, has freed one of the officers, Capt. O.O. Ogunrinde.

Ogunrinde, who was arraigned on a two count of conduct prejudicial to service discipline and relaying information without verification was found to be innocent by the court and was discharged and acquitted.

The Army Captain was the second-in-command at the 331 Artillery Regiment, Biu, when the Chibok girls were abducted by the insurgents.

The abduction of the girls has provoked global outrage but most of the girls remain in custody of the violent Ismaic sect, Boko Haram, trill date.

Ogunrinde was said to have been arraigned for allegedly relaying information without verification concerning the number of girls abducted.

The defence counsel to Ogunrinde, Mr. A.I. Omachi, said that the trial court decided the case in favour of his client, having found him not guilty of the charges levelled against him.

Ogunrinde was the only Army personnel who escaped a jail sentence by the court, which sentenced two officers and 13 soldiers in relation with the Chibok incident on December 23, 2014.

(PUNCH)

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has denied report that he was involved in tax evasion.

Ikpeazu disclosed this at his campaign office headquarters in Umuahia when he told journalist that his working life as a civil servant had made him used to paying tax because tax was always deducted at source.

He stated that the rumour about his tax evasion were been spread around by mischief makers who were out to mislead the electorate.

 “Payment of tax was not a matter of choice but I paid compulsorily as a civil servant. Therefore payment or non payment of tax cannot be an issue for a public servant (because) every public servant pays tax on pay as you earn system,” he stated.

However, he acknowledged that there could have been a mistaken identity as the mischief makers went and imported the tax document of one Chief Okezie Ikpeazu, “who is a businessman and a farmer who they are claiming has not been paying his tax and I am not that person, as I am not a chief; it is mere coincidence of name.”

The PDP gubernatorial candidate said he had earlier won a case of tax evation when some persons dragged him to a Federal High Court in Abuja, claiming that he had not been paying his taxes.

He said; “We presented our stand and when the complainants saw our defence, they had no choice than to withdraw the case, while a cost was awarded against them,” he said,

He added that the story of tax evasion was planted by his detractors to tarnish his image,

He advised media houses outside Abia State to always crosscheck their facts before going public.

He warned that rumour monger will no longer be tolerated; “We are no longer ready to take some stories for granted, as we are going to take such rumour mongers to court for them to prove their case.” He said.