Army demotes Gen Ransome-Kuti

Gen Enitan Ransome kuti

The council also quashed his six months
imprisonment with immediate effect
Ransome-Kuti was accused of dereliction of duties.
The Army Council has commuted the dismissal
of Brig-Gen Enitan Ransome-Kuti to a
demotion to the rank of colonel with four years
seniority, Thisday reports.
The council also quashed his six months
imprisonment with immediate effect from
October 15, 2015.
This decision was contained in a circular dated
March 1, 2016 and signed by Col. O. N. Taiwo
on behalf of the chief of army staff, Tukur
Buratai.
According to the circular, the council took the
decision in its last meeting on February 22,
2016, after reviewing the judgment of the
special court martial that tried Ransome-Kuti
on a three-count charge for failure to perform
military duties and miscellaneous offences
relating to service property.
The army had on October last year dismissed
Brig-Gen. Ransome-Kuti, and sentenced him to
six months imprisonment through general court
martial by the Army Headquarters Garrison
(AHQ), due to the alleged offences committed
during his command of military operations in
Baga, Borno state, early this year.
Part of the circular read: “A special court
martial (SCM) was convened vide reference A to
try the above named senior officer. He was
arraigned on a three-count charges for Failure
to perform military duties and miscellaneous
offences Relating to service property.
“He was tried but was discharged and
acquitted on count 1. He was however found
guilty on count 2 and 3 by the SCM that tried
him. He was thus awarded dismissal from the
army on count 2 and six months imprisonment
on count 3.
“Consequently, I am directed to inform you
that reference B has conveyed to this
headquarters that the army council in its last
meeting on February 22, 2016, confirmed the
conviction of the accused senior officer on count
two but commuted the sentence of dismissal to
reduction in rank from Brigadier-General to
Colonel with four years seniority WEF October
15, 2015.
“The council also quashed the finding of guilt
and the award of six months imprisonment by
the SCM on count three and replaced same with
finding of not guilty.
“Accordingly, I am directed to request AHQ
GAR to release the senior officer from close
custody. I am also to request AHQ MS to post
him out of jurisdiction.”
Ransome-Kuti was accused of dereliction of
duties, which allegedly led to the capture of
Baga and newly acquired weaponry by the Boko
Haram terrorists.
The senior officer who was represented by the
Lagos-based lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) , was
also alleged to have upon investigations, failed
to account for the arms and ammunition under
his supervision.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian army has discovered
another bomb-making factory in Kumshe,
Borno state.