Soldier to die by hanging for killing his colleague and 5 others in Borno

The Nigerian Army 7 Division General Court Martial has sentenced a soldier identified as Private Musa Saleh to death by hanging for killing his colleague in Mafa Town, Borno state.

Saleh who has been on trial on a four-count charge bordering on murder, assault and attempted murder, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

However, the court martial headed by Brig.-Gen. Richard Pam said it established the charges against the soldier attached to 112 Task Force Battalion in Mafa and further discovered that he also killed five innocent people, caused bodily injuries and left others with permanent disability, Daily Trust reports.

The prosecution counsel called 6 witnesses and tendered 11 exhibits to establish the charges while the defence counsel called accused soldier as a witness and tendered one exhibit.

Brig.-Gen. Pam said after careful consideration of the evidence that were tendered to the court martial, it was discovered that there was a clear breach of codified laws.

The senior military officer said; ‘The sentence of this General Court called Martial on you are as follows: Count one, the sentence is death by hanging, Count Two, 24 months imprisonment, Count three, 24 months imprisonment, Count four, life imprisonment.’

Speaking to journalists, the Defence Counsel, Habib Kabura Batuncha said; ‘The matter between the Nigerian Army and Private Musa Saleh has come to an end, and I think we will put our hands in order and do the needful at the right time’.

However, the judgment, according to the President of the Court Martial, is however, subject to the confirmation by the authority, where the convict has right to appeal within three months.