Mutiny: Former Senate President Appeals Death Sentence Of Soldiers

Several Nigerians have condemned the death sentence of soldiers found guilty of mutiny by the Military Tribunal, but none has taken a decisive action like a former Senate President Ameh Ebute, who has now filed an appeal against the execution of six of the 12 condemned soldiers.

The former Senate leader, who is also a renowned lawyer, filed a motion for a stay of execution of the condemned soldiers at the Appeal Court in Abuja.

Ameh, in an interview with Vanguard, said that he filed the appeal in accordance with Sections 183 and 184 of the Armed forces Act cap A of the Laws of the Federation, which give the condemned men up to 10 days to appeal against their conviction.

The soldiers had been sentenced to death by firing squad on September 15, 2014 by a General Court Martial, led by Brig. Gen. C.C. Okonkwo, who found them guilty of criminal conspiracy, mutiny and attempt to murder after they allegedly attacked the former General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 7th Division of the Nigerian Army.

Ameh therefore asked the military to stop further actions on the soldiers until the appeal is heard and determined in accordance with the law.

He however expressed concern about the condition under which the condemned soldiers are being kept. “The condition under which these men are being kept amounts to execution since they are kept in a permanently dark room bereft of the basic facilities of life.”

The former Senate President therefore called on the military authorities to transfer the soldiers to a regular detention facility and kept safe until the Appeal Court ruling.

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