Army Promotes Minimah, 8 Others To Maj-General

The Nigerian Army has announced the promotion of two General Officers Commanding (GOC) and seven other senior officers to the rank of Major General.

In a statement in Abuja, the Director of Army Public Relations, Friday, Brig-General Chris Olukolade listed Brig-Gen K. T. J. Minimah, GOC 81 Division and Brig-Gen M. D. Abubakar, GOC, 2 Division as among those that benefited from the promotion exercise.

According to Olukolade, others who were elevated to the rank of Maj-General include Commander, Corps of Signals, Brig-Gen O. A. C. Ariahu, Commander, Nigerian Army Armoured Corps, Brig-Gen A. B. Marwa, the Director of Military Intelligence, Brig-Gen S. Y. Audu as well as the Commander, 23 Brigade, Brig-Gen. J. O. Nwaogbo.

Others are the Deputy Commandant, National Defence College, Brig-Gen O. S. Adeosun, the Director, Army Finance and Accounts, Brig-Gen A. I. Muraina and the Chairman Military Pensions Board, Brig-Gen B. T. Kwaji, all of whom were elevated to the rank of Maj-General.

The statement, added tha the Commander, Guards Brigade, Col. E. J. Atewe was also promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General.

The senior officers promoted are expected to be decorated with their new ranks shortly, the statement said, adding that the promotions were the last for the year.

The statement, however, noted that 27 soldiers convicted for mutiny by a military court in Akure last year have been pardoned by the Army Council.

Olukolade explained that the sentences of the soldiers were commuted from years imprisonment to discharge from military service.

“The council also approves that the soldiers be paid all their due entitlements, while those entitled to pension among them will also receive their dues accordingly.

The 27 soldiers who served in the 15th battalion of the UN Mission in Liberia, had demonstrated openly in the streets of Akure on September 4 and September 5, 2009 against the non-payment of their allowances while they were on the mission.

The soldiers who were being owed about six months’ salary arrears were expected to be paid $1,228 per month.

As a consequence of their protest considered as a willful violation of military rules, they were arrested and charged before military court, headed by Brig. Gen. Ishaya Bauka, which found them guilty and sentenced them to life imprisonment in July.

The Bauka Panel found them guilty of mutiny in violation of Section 52(2) of the Armed Forces Act.

The judgment was later reviewed and converted to seven years imprisonment by the Army High Command, following the soldiers’ plea for mercy.