The former Commander, Infantry Corps and Centre, Jaji, who was
redeployed following the twin bomb blasts at the Armed Forces Command and Staff
College, Jaji, Maj.-Gen. Mohammed Isah, may have opted to engage the Nigerian
Army in a suit over the decision to court-martial him.
redeployed following the twin bomb blasts at the Armed Forces Command and Staff
College, Jaji, Maj.-Gen. Mohammed Isah, may have opted to engage the Nigerian
Army in a suit over the decision to court-martial him.
A top military source said on Thursday that Isah was exploiting
the opportunities offered by the law to enlist the services of a lawyer of his
choice to challenge the decision.
the opportunities offered by the law to enlist the services of a lawyer of his
choice to challenge the decision.
But beyond the provisions in the military law giving him the
right to hire a lawyer of his choice, Isah is believed to have opted for the
legal option to prevent the Army from making him to face a court martial, which
has serious implications on his record and achievements as a general in the
Army.
right to hire a lawyer of his choice, Isah is believed to have opted for the
legal option to prevent the Army from making him to face a court martial, which
has serious implications on his record and achievements as a general in the
Army.
The resort to a civil court for the resolution of the knotty
issue, it was learnt, was to ensure that the general had access to justice as a
Nigerian citizen.
issue, it was learnt, was to ensure that the general had access to justice as a
Nigerian citizen.
Isah was retired compulsorily by the Nigerian Army Council
alongside 51 other senior officers of the service, who were due for retirement.
alongside 51 other senior officers of the service, who were due for retirement.
He was said to have been retired compulsorily because he
did not put in a letter for voluntary retirement in consonance with traditional
practice in the service for disengagement.
did not put in a letter for voluntary retirement in consonance with traditional
practice in the service for disengagement.
The former army secretary applied for a service extension to
afford him the opportunity to contribute to the fight against terrorism in the
country but the application was turned down.
afford him the opportunity to contribute to the fight against terrorism in the
country but the application was turned down.
With their retirement, Isah and several others might not be able
to serve Nigeria at any level again.
to serve Nigeria at any level again.
Although, the Army has not come out with details of the final
report of the panel, it was learnt that the officers and men on duty when the
incident occurred were recommended for sanctioning.
report of the panel, it was learnt that the officers and men on duty when the
incident occurred were recommended for sanctioning.
The investigating panel was said to have interviewed Isah, AVM
Kure, Maj.-Gen. Isuji (redeployed to Abuja), the field officer and duty officer
on the day of attack, the Commanding Officer of the 4 Demo Battalion and the
Rear Officer of the battalion, among others.
Kure, Maj.-Gen. Isuji (redeployed to Abuja), the field officer and duty officer
on the day of attack, the Commanding Officer of the 4 Demo Battalion and the
Rear Officer of the battalion, among others.
But the retired general has the option to write to the Army
Council to appeal against the decision, a former Director of Army Public
Relations, Maj.-Gen. Bola Koleosho, told journalists.
Council to appeal against the decision, a former Director of Army Public
Relations, Maj.-Gen. Bola Koleosho, told journalists.
On Monday, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika,
gave strong indications that Isah might face a military court martial even
though he did not say so directly.
gave strong indications that Isah might face a military court martial even
though he did not say so directly.
Ihejirika said Isah was indicted by the report of the
investigating committee into the Jaji bomb blast which resulted in the killing
of 17 people, including a general, Air Commodore Akabo.
investigating committee into the Jaji bomb blast which resulted in the killing
of 17 people, including a general, Air Commodore Akabo.
The army chief said that in spite of the fact that Isah and his
counterpart at the 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, Kaduna, got an intelligence
report on the impending terror attack a day before the incident, Isah did not
take the expected steps to forestall the attack.
counterpart at the 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, Kaduna, got an intelligence
report on the impending terror attack a day before the incident, Isah did not
take the expected steps to forestall the attack.
Ihejirika also accused Isah of being behind an anonymous
petition that alleged nepotism, favouritism and ethno-religious sentiments in
postings and promotions in the Army.
petition that alleged nepotism, favouritism and ethno-religious sentiments in
postings and promotions in the Army.
Calls to Isah’s phone did not connect on Thursday and Friday. He
did not also respond to an sms sent to his phone.
did not also respond to an sms sent to his phone.
Source: Punch
