The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai, has commuted to 10 years imprisonment each, the sixty-six soldiers who were sentenced to death by firing squad in January and March 2015 by separate General Court Martial.
It will be recalled that 71 soldiers were arraigned on several charges including Criminal Conspiracy, Conspiracy to commit mutiny, Mutiny, Attempt to Commit an Offence (Murder), Disobedience to Particular Orders, Insubordinate Behaviour and False Accusation, among others. They were tried, discharged on some charges but found guilty and convicted on other charges which included mutiny. Out of the number, 66 were found guilty on some of the count charges and sentenced to death, while 5 were discharged and acquitted and 1 was given 28 days Imprisonment with Hard Labour.
However, following series of petitions, the Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai, ordered a legal review of the cases. Recommendations as a result of the review made the Chief of Army Staff commute the death sentences of the 66 soldiers to 10 years jail term. [DHQ]
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