Former Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka-Usman (Rtd.), has said that officers accused of plotting a coup will be tried by court-martial under civilian administration.
Kukasheka-Usman stated this while fielding questions on Tuesday.
He stated the offence was serious and required strict compliance with both military and civilian legal procedures.
Kukasheka-Usman further explained that under military regulations, serving personnel cannot be tried until their commanders establish that an offence has been committed and due process has been followed.
According to him, members of the armed forces are subject to military, civil and international laws, noting that the Armed Forces Act provides for court-martial in cases involving service members.
“Under Section 114 of the Armed Forces Act, military personnel cannot be tried for civilian offences not listed in the Act. They will instead face a court-martial, equivalent in authority to a state or FCT High Court, with decisions subject to confirmation by the Defence Council, and appeals possible up to the Supreme Court,” Kukasheka-Usman said.
The retired general also commended the military and the government for following due process in handling the case, urging the public to allow the authorities to complete the legal procedures.
