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 judgement, 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.
[Daily Trust]
