A General
Court Martial (GCM) of the Nigerian Army has sentenced Lance Cpl Hillary
Joel to death, for murdering a civilian during a cordon and search
operation in Damboa, Borno State.
Brig.-Gen. Olusegun Adeniyi, President of the GCM, gave the verdict at a seating on Friday in Maiduguri.
“The
prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. It is clear
that the accused committed the offense, contrary to the Armed Forces
Act.
“The
court has found you guilty of the offense of murder; it has listened to
the presentation by the prosecution urging that you be treated as a
first offender. We have also listened to your plea.
“But
the court also considered the need to maintain discipline and sanity in
the system, especially as our anti- terrorism war continues. You are
hereby sentenced to death,” Adeniyi ruled.
He
said, however, that the sentence was subject to confirmation by the
authority as provided for, by section 141 paragraph I A, of the Armed
Forces Act.
Joel
was said to have set ablaze a civilian, Mr. Wawi Lawan, during a
military cordon and search operation in Damboa, on Jan. 26, 2015,
leading to his death.
The court also sentenced Chima Daniel, a Private, to 15 years imprisonment, for aiding and abetting murder.
Daniel was said to have used pepper on a minor, who was under interrogation for alleged theft of a mobile telephone.
The
incident, which happened on May 14, 2014 in Zabarmari village in Jere
Local Government Area of Borno, led to the death of the boy.
Delivering
the judgment, Adeniyi declared: “Having found you guilty of the charge
against you and listened to the prosecution plea to treat you as a first
offender, the court hereby sentence you to 15 years imprisonment.
“This
sentence is subject to confirmation as provided for, by section 141
paragraph 11, and section 152 paragraph 1A of the Armed Forces Act,” he
stated.
The
court also demoted Audu Aliyu, from Corporal to Private, for assaulting
three minors without justification, while Balanga Samuel, a sergeant,
was also demoted to a private, for deserting his duty post at the 158
battalion in Kareto, during a suspected Boko Haram attack.
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