Following a court martial constituted by the Military authorities to try soldiers, who allegedly shot at the General Officer Commanding, GOC, of the Army’s 7 Division in Maiduguri, Borno State, Maj-Gen. Ahmadu Mohammed on May 14, 2014, Nigerian military has lined up 21 witnesses to testify against 18 suspected soldiers accused of mutiny.
Defence Headquarters Abuja had last week confirmed the ongoing court martial.
Colonel Onyema Nwachukwu, speaking on behalf of the spokesperson for the Defence Headquarters, Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade, said he could not confirm how many soldiers were facing trial, but pleaded for patient, saying details of the trial would be made public.
Reports by Premium Times said the witnesses include a Major General, two Brigadier Generals, three colonels, two Lieutenant Colonels, two Majors, and three Captains.
Others are a Lieutenant, two second Lieutenants, one Master Warrant Officer, three Sergeants and a private soldier.
More witnesses may be called upon by the court if the need arises during the proceedings.
The 21 witnesses are expected testify before the court-martial that the suspects indeed committed the offences for which they have been charged.
The 18 soldiers are facing the military court on allegations of rebelling against the army, disobeying their superiors, threatening the lives of their commander and bringing the army to disrepute.
The accused soldiers are also court martial for revolting and opening fire on the utility vehicle of the General Commanding Officer.
Commander, Army Headquarters Garrison, B.T. Ndiomu, had on July 20 convened a General Court Martial, GCM, which is already underway, being presided over by Brigadier General C.C Okonkwo.
The army accused the soldiers of attempting to kill the GOC Mohammed, who was immediately redeployed to another formation after the incident.
The soldiers had blamed General Mohammed for the deaths of their colleagues killed in an ambush near Chibok, where nearly 300 school girls were kidnapped.
The attack in Maimalari cantonment humiliated the Nigerian military at a time the force came under international spotlight over the abduction of nearly 300 school girls in Chibok by the extremist Boko Haram sect.