Primate Elijah Ayodele, founder of INRI Evangelical
Spiritual Church in Lagos has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to
spare the lives of 54 soldiers sentenced to death for mutiny.
About a week ago, a military court in Nigeria had ruled that 54 soldiers be executed by a firing squad after they were found guilty of mutiny.
Calling on Jonathan to apply the prerogative of mercy to save the lives of the soldiers, Ayodele said his re-election in 2015 could be seriously undermined if he failed to do so, PM News reports.
He added that their execution would demoralise other soldiers who are waging war against Boko Haram insurgents in northeastern Nigeria.
The condemned soldiers are reportedly being maltreated already as
they are starved by the military authorities as they await an uncertain
fate.
Recall that the General Court Martial was inaugurated on October 2. 97 soldiers, including 15 senior officers, were tried for various offenses allegedly committed in the counter-terrorism operation in the North-Eastern part of the country.
About a week ago, a military court in Nigeria had ruled that 54 soldiers be executed by a firing squad after they were found guilty of mutiny.
Calling on Jonathan to apply the prerogative of mercy to save the lives of the soldiers, Ayodele said his re-election in 2015 could be seriously undermined if he failed to do so, PM News reports.
He added that their execution would demoralise other soldiers who are waging war against Boko Haram insurgents in northeastern Nigeria.
However, counsel to the condemned soldiers, Femi Falana (SAN), has described the sentencing of the soldiers as a miscarriage of justice.
Recall that the General Court Martial was inaugurated on October 2. 97 soldiers, including 15 senior officers, were tried for various offenses allegedly committed in the counter-terrorism operation in the North-Eastern part of the country.
Source: NaijNews
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