Chief Of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai has commuted the death sentence passed on 66 soldiers in January and March 2015, to 10 years imprisonment.
Spokesman to the Nigeria Army Colonel Sani Usman announced this in a statement issued on Saturday.
Usman said 71 soldiers were arraigned on charges bordering “on criminal conspiracy, conspiracy to commit mutiny, mutiny, attempt to commit an offence (murder), insubordinate behaviour, disobedience to particular orders and false accusation.
They were were tried, discharged on some charges but found guilty and convicted on other charges.
“However, following a series of petitions, the chief of army staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai, ordered a legal review of the cases. The directive was carried out to examine the merit of each case. It was on the basis of the review and recommendations that the chief of army staff commuted the death sentences of the 66 soldiers to 10 years jail term. The sentences are to run concurrently,” Usman explained
You will recall that it was due to lack of supply of ammunition that brought about various offences alleged against these officers. With the revelations made on the Dasukigate saga, could it be said that these soldiers have been vindicated over their actions?