Two officers of the Nigerian Army have been recommended for compulsory retirement, three to lose their command and one to be prosecuted for collecting financial gratification in connection with the 2015 general elections as well as the gubernatorial elections in Ekiti and Osun states.

Major General Adeniyi Oyebade, Chairman of the Nigerian Army Board of Inquiry on the Review of Allegations of Unprofessional Conducts By Some Officers and Soldiers During the 2015 Elections, disclosed this today while submitting the report of the Board to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, at the Army Headquarters, Abuja.

Other recommendations include placing of 15 officers on watch list, while nine officers are to be further investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations levelled against them.

Gen. Oyebade, who is the General Officer Commanding 1 Division Nigerian Army,further disclosed that six officers were recommended to face an audit committee and 62 officers (mostly of the rank of Majors and below) were recommended to be given Letters of Displeasure and to appear before their respective General Officers Commanding for counselling.

He said that an officer, Captain Sagir Koli, has been commended for non-partisanship and professional conduct.

Gen. Oyebade stated that the Board placed advertorials in the media requesting for memoranda from the public before they commenced sitting. He disclosed that 23 officers and over 100 soldiers appeared before it as well as 62 civilians.

He thanked the Nigerian Army for the opportunity to serve and reiterated the Board members’ willingness to serve when called upon for any other such assignment. He also acknowledged the support and cooperation they received from the Nigerian Police and other security agencies, as well as the general public.

In his remarks while receiving the report, the Chief of Army Staff thanked the Board for a thorough and dispassionate job devoid of influence from any quarters.

He expressed delight that the Board, knowing the gravity and implication of their report on the careers of officers and impact on the Nigerian Army, discharged their assignment diligently and professionally. He assured them that the report would be reviewed accordingly, in line with Nigerian Army’s legal and administrative procedures.

Gen. Buratai enjoined members of the Board to share knowledge acquired in the course of their assignment with their colleagues for the benefit of the Nigerian Army and the nation. He further reiterated assurances that the Nigerian Army would continue to remain professional and apolitical in the discharge of its responsibilities.

News Express recalls that the Board was set up 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 gubernatorial elections in Ekiti and Osun states, also held last year.

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