Photo: Court Martial Sitting In Borno Sends Three Soldiers To Jail For Illegal Possession Of Arms And Ammunition

A General Court Martial sitting in 7 Division, Garrison, Maiduguri in Borno state, today sentenced two soldiers to 23 years imprisonment respectively for unlawful possession of fire arms. A statement by the deputy director of Army Public Relations, 7 Division, Kingsley Samuel, says the soldiers who are serving in Operation LAFIYA DOLE, committed the crime which is punishable under Section 27 (1) (a & b) (i & ii) of the Firearms Act. The statement in part reads

“The convicts; Trooper Eric Nwokere and Trooper Macaulay Fortune, at the time of their arrest were in possession of five empty AK-47 rifle magazines and 20,136 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition at Jambutu Motor Park, Jimeta-Yola, Adamawa State while boarding a commercial vehicle to an unknown destination”.

Another soldier, Corporal Garba Saidu, was arrested and charged with illegal possession of 2,800 rounds of 7.2mm (special) ammunition. He was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.

“He (Saidu) was arrested after discovering the ammunition hidden in a poultry farm near Tipper Garage in Maiduguri metropolis. The farm is said to belong to a serving Nigerian policeman. He was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment,” the statement added.

The President of the General Court Martial Lieutenant Colonel Adamu Hassan said the court arrived at the decision after the close of submissions by the prosecution and defense counsels. He said the prosecution proved the case beyond reasonable doubt in line with the burden of proof on the prosecutor to prove all criminal cases beyond reasonable doubt.