Army court-martials GOC over alleged N400m theft

The military high command yesterday inaugurated a General Court Martial (GCM) to try the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 8 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Hakeem Otiki, for the alleged theft of N400 million by soldiers under his watch.

The tribunal, presided over by the Chief of Policy and Plans at the Army Headquarters, Lt.-Gen. Lamidi Adeosun, has seven other major generals as members while Major A. Mohammed is the Judge Advocate.

The prosecuting counsel, Major JS Obot, is supported by Majors I Suleiman and JA Orumo.

Otiki’s lawyers are Okechukwu Ajunwa, Major Femi Oyebanji (rtd) and Ishaq Adekunle.

Gen. Adeosun said the proceedings would be guided by the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Nigerian Armed Forces Act 2004, the Evidence Act, the Holy Bible, the Holy Quran and relevant authorities.