The accused persons during the opening ceremony of the court martial on Thursday.
The Nigerian Army on Thursday inaugurated a special court martial at the Army Headquarters Garrison, Mogadishu cantonment, Abuja to commence the trial of two major generals.
The court martial was convened at the instance of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai for the trial of Major General Patrick Falola and Major General Ibrahim Sani.
The accused persons were both present in court for the inaugural of the panel that would sit in judgement on charges leveled against them.
The President of Court and other members of the panel took turns taking oaths in the presence of the accused persons and lawyers from both the prosecution and the defence teams.
The panel include: Air Vice Marshal James Gbum who is President of the Court, while Air Vice Marshal Iya Abdullahi and Rear Admiral Peter Agba are members of the panel.
Surgeon Rear Admiral Edwin Enechukwu is a waiting member and Colonel Sa’ad Musa is Judge Advocate.
Although, the offences were not read in court, according to sources the accused are said to be facing charges that borders on conduct unbecoming of military officers punishable under the Armed Forces Act.
After the inauguration ceremony, the President of the Court, Air Vice Marshal Gbum adjourned the case to Monday 9th May for arraignment and commencement of trial.
The accused, Major General Ibrahim Sani is former Chief of Army Transformation and Innovation Centre while Major General Patrick Falola was Commander of 68 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Yaba, Lagos.
It was also learnt that this is the first time since the inception of the democratic dispensation from 1999, that senior army officers of Major General Rank will face court martial.
Source: Daily Trust. Photo credit: Ronald Mutum