ABUJA, Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Nigerian ?Army Council has recommended the release from jail and demotion of Enitan Ransome-Kuti, the former Commander of the Multi National Joint Task Force, who was convicted by a military court and sentenced to six months imprisonment.
The council also recommended that he be reabsorbed into the service and deployed, Sahara Reporters reported Wednesday, citing a confidential army memo.
Mr. Ransome-Kuti, a Brigadier-General, was sentenced by a special court martial on October 15, 2015, for alleged offences during the war against Boko Haram.
He was punished for “cowardly behaviour” and for “failure to perform military duties” after Boko Haram militants overran a heavily fortified military base in Baga, Borno State, on January 3, 2015.
Ransome-Kuti was also found guilty of “miscellaneous offences relating to service property.”
After his conviction and imprisonment, his lawyer, Femi Falana, requested his release, pending the determination of his appeal, a request that was turned down by the military authorities.
On Monday, Falana petitioned the army authorities, demanding his freedom, saying his client was still held in prison custody despite completing his jail term.
He insisted Ransome-Kuti was “unjustly convicted” by the court martial.
“As the findings of the special court martial are subject to the confirmation of the appropriate authority, we made a strong representation to the Army council on behalf of our client,” Mr Falana stated in the petition dated February 26, 2016.
Falana said the army’s refusal to release his client was a violation of Section 160 of the Armed Forces Act (Cap A20) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“Thus, you caused our client to serve the six-month prison term without the confirmation of the findings of the special court martial by the Army Council,” he said.
It was not clear whether the recommendations of the council would be upheld as the army spokesperson could not immediately be reached.
Credit: Tribune (Nigeria)
