The Nigerian Army said on Saturday it has begun proceedings to court martial 14 officers and soldiers accused of murder, kidnapping and desertion, among other criminal offences.
Inaugurating the court proccedings in Port Harcourt, General Officer Commanding (GOC) Army 6 Division, Port Harcourt, Maj.-Gen. Jamil Sarham, said the suspects were officers and soldiers of the division.
Sarham said the General Court Martial was convened in compliance to Section 131 of the Armed Forces Act guiding professional conduct of the nation’s military.
“The offences for which the accused persons are being tried range from murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, desertion.
“Others are offences in relation to public and service property, disobedience to standing orders and conducts to the prejudice to service discipline.
“All the offences are punishable under the Armed Forces Act CAP A20 Law of the Federation of Nigeria 2004,” he said.
The accused personnel are made up of three officers and 11 soldiers, including a major, two captians, two staff sergeants and one sergeant, among other ranks.
(NAN)