RismadarVoice Reporters, June 17, 2026
The Nigerian Army has constituted a General Court-Martial to try 12 soldiers accused of offences ranging from murder and assault to allegedly aiding criminal activities.
The court martial was inaugurated at the headquarters of the 4 Special Forces Command in Doma, Nasarawa State, with the Command’s General Officer Commanding, Major-General Olurotimi Awolo, represented by the President of the Court Martial, Colonel Salihu Ibrahim.
Speaking during the inauguration, Colonel Ibrahim said the panel was constituted in accordance with Section 131 of the Armed Forces Act and would conduct its proceedings in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and principles of natural justice.
He assured that all cases would be considered strictly on their individual merits, emphasising that the accused personnel remain innocent until proven guilty by the court.
“The court will ensure fairness, transparency, and adherence to due process in the discharge of its responsibilities,” he said, urging both prosecution and defence teams to conduct themselves professionally and avoid unnecessary delays.
However, proceedings suffered an early setback after six of the 12 soldiers were declared medically unfit to stand trial.
The court’s medical orderly, Sergeant Audu Ahmadu, informed the panel that five of the affected soldiers were suffering from severe hypertension and required immediate medical attention.
Following the medical report, the prosecution counsel, Captain Shamsudeen Sadiq, applied for an adjournment to allow the affected soldiers to undergo treatment before the trial could proceed.
Counsel to the accused soldiers, George Illah, pledged that the defence team would ensure the constitutional rights of the defendants are fully protected throughout the proceedings.
The court granted the request for adjournment and subsequently postponed the trial to a date yet to be announced.
The outcome of the proceedings is expected to be closely watched as the military continues efforts to enforce discipline and accountability within its ranks.
