38 soldiers drag Nigerian Army to ECOWAS court over 'unjust' dismissal
- Some soldiers have dragged the Nigerian army to the ECOWAS Court of Justice
- The soldiers accused the Nigerian army of unjust dismissal
- They also prayed the court to declare that the punishment slammed on them was illegal and a violation of their human rights and failure to follow process
Some dismissed soldiers have dragged the Nigerian army to ECOWAS court over alleged violation of their human rights.
The soldiers - 38 of them - were said to have been unjustly dismissed by the Nigerian army through some of its top defence officers.
Premium Times reports that the soldiers in a fresh suit accused the federal government of acting through the army's defence.
The soldiers in their suit accused the army council of approving the punishment meted to the soldiers without factual legal or constitutional basis.
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Part of suit read: "The power of the army council with regard to discipline of army officers per law, the constitution and the statutes is limited to the powers to confirm and/or affirm and/or review a disciplinary measure made by a competent judicial panel in this case a competent court martial.
“Federal Republic of Nigeria acting by and through the Minister for Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff and the Nigerian Army violated the plaintiffs’ right to be heard before a panel of inquiry previously cited, before a court martial and deny the right to review of their cases in accordance with defendant’s own regulation as provided in paragraph 09.02 (e) of the harmonised terms and conditions of service for officers, 2012.
“Specifically, the within named agents of defendant inserted themselves into the review process and ensured that the plaintiffs’ right to redress was completely stultified by refusing to pass the application for review to the President and Commander-in-Chief," the suit said.
The soldiers also prayed the court to declare that the punishment slammed on them was illegal and a violation of their human rights and failure to follow process.
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It was also gathered that the Nigerian army is yet to obey a resolution passed by the Nigerian Senate to reinstate one of the officers.
The officer, Chidi Ukoha, a colonel had in a petition informed the Senate that he was not given a fair hearing before his dismissal.
The Senate, on Thursday, November 23, after its investigation urged the army to reinstate Ukoha.
The Eight Assembly said the Nigerian army could not also prove that the petitioner was in anyway involved in arms procurement or in political election corruption.
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NAIJ.com earlier reported that a soldier was sentenced to death by a general court martial sitting in Maiduguri.
The soldier, Lance Corporal John Godwin, was accused of killing five victims of Boko Haram insurgency rescued by troops.
Godwin was charged with murder while other soldier accused of manslaughterr, other offences bagged various jail terms.
Boko Haram abducted my husband and the Gov't forgot about him - on NAIJ.com TV
Source: Naija.ng