Alleged Mutiny: Military High Command Reverts Soldiers’ Death Sentence to Jail Term

The military high command on Saturday announced that it has converted the death sentence by firing squad slammed on 66 soldiers earlier this year to 10 years’ imprisonment.The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, in a statement said the 66 affected soldiers were among the 72 soldiers convicted of mutiny alongside other charges.The Army Public Relations Acting Director insisted that the cases of other soldiers were being reviewed and the same would be made public once the reviews are completed.The statement further argued that the decision to commute the soldiers’ sentence, was taken after thorough consideration of petitions by concerned citizens.According to the statement, “The soldiers were arraigned on several count charges that include criminal conspiracy, conspiracy to commit mutiny, mutiny, attempt to commit an offence (murder), disobedience to particular orders, insubordinate behavior and false accusation, among others.“They were tried, discharged on some charges but found guilty and convicted on other charges which included mutiny. Out of the number, 66 were found guilty on some of the count charges and sentenced to death, while five were discharged and acquitted and one was given 28 days’ imprisonment with hard labor.“The directive was carried out to examine the merit of each case. It was on the basis of the review and recommendations that the Chief of Army Staff commuted the death sentence of the 66 soldiers to 10 years’ jail term. The sentences are to run concurrently.”