BBOG Group Wants FG to Recall Soldiers Jailed for Cowardice

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The Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) group has urged the Federal Government to reinstate the soldiers jailed for cowardice against the Boko Haram Insurgency.

The group made the appeal on Tuesday in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital during a meeting with the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami.

Led by BBOG’s Co-convener, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, they presented several issues before the Attorney General, including an immediate recall of the military men who were jailed for cowardice at the war front without arms.

The group also asked the Federal Government to make public to Nigerians, the details of the Fact-Finding Committee report on the mass abduction of the Chibok girls in April, 2014.

In his response, Mr Malami advised the BBOG group to explore the Freedom of Information Bill and make their request in a letter to the Federal Government.

He assured the group that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration would continue to stand by justice, especially through a newly established national prosecution team set up by the government.

Mr Malami also told the group that the Federal Government would not consider plea bargain as an option for anyone facing prosecution for terrorism and financial crimes.

The Nigerian Army had months ago arraigned 71 soldiers on several count charges including criminal conspiracy, conspiracy to commit mutiny, insubordinate behaviour and false accusation.

They were tried and discharged on some charges but found guilty and convicted on other charges including mutiny.

Five of the soldiers were discharged and acquitted while one was sentenced to 28 days in prison with hard labour.

The Army authority subsequently commuted judgement in the case of the other soldiers, who had earlier been sentenced to death by firing squad in January and March 2015, by separate General Court Martials.

According to the Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Usman, the decision followed an order by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, to examine the merit of each case.

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