Court Martial Sentences Soldier To Death For Murder

A Nigerian Army General Court Martial sitting astatine Maxwell Khobe Cantonment, Jos, Plateau State, has sentenced Private Lukman Musa to decease by hanging aft uncovering him blameworthy of murder.

Musa was convicted for the sidesplitting of Mr. Abdulrahman Isa successful Azare town, Bauchi State.

The verdict was made nationalist connected Thursday nighttime successful a station connected the Nigerian Defence Academy’s (NDA) Facebook page.

“The Nigerian Army General Court Martial sitting astatine Maxwell Khobe Cantonment, Jos, has sentenced Private Lukman Musa to decease by hanging. He was recovered blameworthy of the execution of Mr. Abdulrahman Isa, successful Azare town, Bauchi State,” the NDA wrote.

According to grounds presented during trial, Musa conspired with an accomplice, identified simply arsenic Mr. Oba, to lure Isa into his residence nether the guise of helping him determination idiosyncratic belongings.

Once inside, Musa struck the unsuspecting rider connected the caput with a woody object, rendering him unconscious, earlier strangling him to death.

In a bid to conceal the crime, the duo stuffed Isa’s lifeless assemblage into a sack and dumped it betwixt Shira and Yala villages successful Bauchi State. They aboriginal sold disconnected the victim’s tricycle, exposing the premeditated quality of the killing.

Military prosecutors further revealed that investigators recovered 34 rounds of 7.62mm peculiar ammunition from Musa’s possession without lawful authority.

In his ruling, Brigadier General Bello, president of the Court Martial, described Musa’s behaviour arsenic “barbaric, heartless, and a gross usurpation of subject morals and values.”

“You mercilessly metamorphosed from a defender of citizens to a killer. Your enactment is an embarrassment and disgrace to the Nigerian Army,” Bello declared.

Musa was sentenced to decease by hanging for culpable homicide, contrary to Section 220 of the Penal Code and punishable nether Section 221. He besides received 2 years’ imprisonment for unlawful possession of ammunition, contrary to Section 8(1) of the Firearms Act.

In addition, the tribunal ordered that Musa beryllium dismissed from the Nigerian Army with ignominy, stripped of his rank, and denied each privileges.

Major Aminu Mairuwa, Acting Deputy Director of Legal Services, 3 Division, said the ruling reinforced the Army’s zero tolerance for indiscipline.

“This judgement signifies the Nigerian Army’s resoluteness to guarantee that nary unit operates extracurricular the instrumentality oregon laid-down modular operating procedures. This is simply a wide objection that nary unit is supra the law. The Army remains committed to justice, order, and professionalism,” Mairuwa told journalists aft the verdict.

The Court Martial was convened nether the authorization of Major General Folunsho Oyinlola, General Officer Commanding 3 Division and Commander of Operation Enduring Peace.

For the grieving household of the slain tricycle operator, Thursday’s ruling provided immoderate measurement of closure.

Anas Isa, elder member of the deceased, expressed alleviation aft the judgment, “We are precise blessed with what the tribunal has done. We ne'er believed justness would beryllium served this way, but contiguous we are grateful.”

Similarly, Jamilu Aliyu, Isa’s stepbrother, thanked the Nigerian Army and the GOC for ensuring justice.

“This verdict has brought bid to our family,” helium said.