...Soldiers not shielded from prosecution - Malami

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, yesterday explained why soldiers involved in Wadume’s trial were not being presented for prosecution.

Addressing reporters after the federal cabinet meeting, Malami said the soldiers must be prosecuted within the context of the Nigerian law.

He said for the military to release their personnel for prosecution, in-house processes and procedures must be consummated.

On the allegation that he was shielding the soldiers from prosecution, he noted that “there are certain provisions of the Nigerian law exclusive to the military within the context of law on court martial and then the internal discipline associated with the military. The soldiers can now be charged before court martial and then for the military to release their personnel for prosecution, ordinary there are inhouse processes and procedures that are to be consummated. So, those that are handy for the purpose of prosecution cannot be held in custody for unduly longer period of time on the account or the absence of the military.

“So, that’s how the idea of severing the charge to allow those that are handy to stand their trail arose. That does not mean that by any means that the military are shielded and cannot be prosecuted. But if they’ve to be prosecuted, they’ve to be prosecuted within the context of the law. What is the law here? They’re military personnel. First, they’re to go through the in-house processes. There are two options: either to charge them before the court martial which is a special court established by law for the trial of soldiers or in the alternative for the military after consummation of the in-house processes should consider handing them over for trail.”