Relief appears to be coming the way of soldiers sentenced to death by the General Court Martial, GCM, of the Nigerian Army as President Goodluck Jonathan is said to have shown lack of interest in approving their death.
This is even as the Nigerian Army Headquarters, AHQ, has insisted that the fate of the soldiers were no longer in their hands, but ostensibly in the hands of the president.
Reputable security source close to the Presidency, authoritatively told our correspondent in Abuja that, “the President will never sign the death sentence of these soldiers, not even that of any other citizen of Nigeria.”
According to the source which prefers to remain anonymous, President Jonathan had been receiving entreaty not to kill the soldiers and he had indicated considering their pardon, even though he had refused to give any definite answers to or statements on the matter.
Army Public Relations Officer, APR, of the AHQ Garison, Colonel Aliyu Yusuf, confirmed that the sentenced soldiers were doing very well in custody awaiting the confirmation of their sentence before execution.
He said, “they are still awaiting confirmation from appropriate superior authority”, reminding that the president had to approve their death before they could be executed.
Although he said that the soldiers were free to appeal their sentence, all that the Army was now waiting for was that confirmation of their death sentence, indicating that it had been the reason behind the long silence after the judgement.
However, our correspondent learnt that the president was also awaiting the recommendations of the Army Council which was yet to sit over the matter, which it was also learnt, really has no final say in the matter.
A source said that the president was being very careful in handling the matter in view of its sensitive nature and the impact it could cause on the planned elections and ongoing anti-terrorism war.
The source said that all eyes had been on the President to decide on the matter, the president doesn’t want to be distracted by the matter that can wait, in view of the tension already generated in the polity by the elections and insecurity. “This is a trying time for the country and Mr. President.
If he should go ahead to sign their death, it will raise issues and if he should pronounce their pardon, it will still generate issues.
So, the enemies of this country are waiting to talk but the president will act on the matter of the soldiers when it is appropriate but certainly, he will not approve their death”, the source said.
Over 66 soldiers are currently on death row, having been sentenced to death for mutiny in the Nigerian Army by the GCM especially since September 2014.
The soldiers were among those fighting in the North East, in the ongoing war against the Boko Haram insurgents.
While some were accused in Maiduguri’s Maimalari Barracks, Borno State, for revolting against the authorities of the Nigerian Army 7 Division, others were brought by the 111 Special Forces Battalion’s Commanding Officer, Lt-Col Timothy Opulum, in the same Division for revolting and refusing to advance against the enemies
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