Election duty: Army Board recommends disciplinary action against two officers, others

The Board of Inquiry set up by the Nigerian Army to investigate the alleged misconduct of some military personnel during the 2015 elections has recommended the compulsory retirement of two officers.
This is contained in a statement in Abuja on Monday by the Acting Army spokesman, Col. Sani Usman.
According to the statement, 23 officers; over 100 soldiers and 62 civilians appeared before the board headed by Major-General Adeniyi Oyebade, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division, Nigerian Army.
Usman said the board, however, commended one officer, Captain Sagir Koli, for non-partisanship and professional conduct while various disciplinary actions were recommended for over 90 other personnel.
It will be recalled that following petitions and allegations of unprofessional and partisan conducts of some officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army during the 2015 general elections as well as the governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states in 2014, the Nigerian Army set up a high-powered Board of Inquiry.
“The Board after a thorough job had today, Monday Jan. 11, 2016, submitted its report to the Chief of Army Staff at the Army Headquarters, Abuja.
“Two officers were recommended for compulsory retirement from the Nigerian Army, three were to lose their command and one was recommended for prosecution for collecting financial gratification.
“Other recommendations include; placing 15 officers on watch list, nine officers are to be further investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations levelled against them.
“Six officers are to face an audit committee and 62 officers (mostly of the rank of Majors-below) are to be given Letters of Displeasure and to appear before their respective General Officers Commanding for counseling,” he said.
The statement cited the Chairman of the board as attributing the success of its assignment to the cooperation of the public and other sister agencies.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, the statement said, commended the board for a job ‘well done’.
He assured that the Nigerian Army would continue to remain professional and apolitical in the discharge of its responsibilities.
The Nigerian Army had in 2015 set up a board to investigate the conduct of its personnel on election duty, following petitions received from the public.