The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 8 Division Nigerian Army and Commander Joint Taskforce (North West) Operation HADARIN DAJI, Major General Godwin Micheal Mutkut, took a decisive step by inaugurating a special court martial aimed at addressing various offences committed by Nigerian Army personnel across the country.
Major General Mutkut, during the inauguration at the 8 Division headquarters in Sokoto state, emphasized the pivotal role of the court martial in dispensing justice to both the victims and the state, while ensuring fair treatment of the accused individuals. He stated, “To sustain the administration of justice and fair hearing for enhanced service discipline, it is the bedrock of any military professionalism that the inauguration of the SCM became crucial.”
Furthermore, he charged the court to meticulously evaluate all evidence in line with the principles of fairness, underlining the importance of deciding each case on its own merit to ensure justice for all. He also reminded the Court of the precept that stands by the belief that 99 guilty persons should go free than for one innocent person to be unjustly convicted.
Assuring justice and fair treatment, General Mutkut stated, “the Special Court Martial will be guided throughout the trial by the principles of natural justice and fair hearing as encapsulated in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and other laws and procedures related to their trials.”
Emphasizing the independence and fairness of the court, he assured that it will be free from external influence, affirming that the accused individuals would be accorded adequate time and facilities to defend themselves.
The inauguration of the Court witnessed the presence of Senior Officers including the President of the Court, Colonel Kabir Imam, formation commanders, as well as prosecution and defence councils, among others.
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