The trial by a military court martial of Brigadier General J. O. Akomolafe, who was the former Brigade Commander of HQ 21 Brigade, Bama in Borno State, has finally been concluded.
The officer was arraigned before the military court sitting at the 9 Brigade Officer’s Mess, Ikeja Military Cantonment in Lagos State over the loss of Mohammed Kur Barracks, Bama in Borno State to Boko Haram insurgents on September 1, 2014.
The court martial was convened and inaugurated by the then General Officer Commanding HQ 81 Division, Major General TI Dibi, now retired.
Akomolafe was charged and tried for cowardly behaviour, failure to perform military duty and loss of military properties, namely his staff car and four Hillux vehicles.
The officer, who was represented by Femi Falana (SAN) and Major Femi Oyebanji (rtd), successfully convinced the court that the loss of the location was due to lack of serviceable equipment, adequate ammunitions and personnel to repel the attack.
The uncontroverted evidence adduced during the trial was that troops fought gallantly despite the limited resources available, but were overwhelmed by the superior firepower of the insurgents.
They therefore withdrew from the barracks because no further efforts could have prevented the location from falling.
DAILYPOST
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