No New Equipment Was Issued To Our Soldiers To Fight Boko Haram , Former GOC Tells Military Court

No new equipment was ever issued to the Multinational
Joint Task Force (MNJTF) to prosecute the war against
Boko Haram militants, a prosecution witness has stated
at the ongoing court-martial of Brig Gen EA Ransome-
Kuti, a former commander of the MNJTF.
This testimony starkly contradicts the assertion of the
former Chief of Army Staff Kenneth Minimah that brand
new equipment was purchased and issued to the
MNJTF.
Brigadier General Kuti was in charge of Baga, in Borno
State, when Boko Haram overran the army headquarters
in December 2014.  International organizations
estimated that over 3, 000 died in the incident, but
Defense Headquarters posted a much lower figure of
150.
Making the stunning statement at the Special Court
Martial, which is taking place at the Army Headquarters
Garrison in Abuja, was Major Gen MY Ibrahim, former
General Officer Commanding the 7th Division of the
army.
Major General Ibrahim caused a further stir when he
declared that throughout his tenure as the GOC, he did
not once visit Baga.
General Ibrahim further testified that the three MBLT
Battle Tanks issued to the force had mechanical and
electrical faults, while the artillery guns lacked critical
accessories.
It was further revealed during the trial that the MNJTF
lacked adequate fighting vehicles and support weapons.
Most of the battle tanks in Baga were issued in 1998 at
the commencement of the operation, and were therefore
in very poor condition.  The tanks were therefore not
useful and could not effectively be used to repel the
attack by the insurgents on the 3rd of January 2015.
Despite Army Headquarters directives that there should
be mutual support in the North East operation by all
members of the Nigerian Army, members of the Court
Martial were dumbfounded when documentary evidence
was tendered to show that the former GOC intentionally
refused to task any military unit to support the MNJTF
when it came under that attack.
Prior to this development, the Investigating Police
Officer had informed the court that he was restricted in
his investigation while the second prosecution witness,
Captain EE Emmanuel, testified that MNJTF fighting
equipment was unserviceable and that the troops were
thus overwhelmed by the insurgents who fought with
superior fire power and in strength.
Meanwhile, the Committee set up by the Chief of Army
Staff to screen officers and soldiers in Jaji has
concluded its sitting without screening all the army
officers who turned up for the exercise. The committee
made up of Maj Gen A Oyebade, Col I Buhari, Col ON
Taiwo, Col TS Nurseman, Lt Col EO Ugwu, Lt Col ME
Elom and Lt Col U Ukpe, directed the officers to return
to their location and continue with their trials.
Although the trial has not commenced, our
investigations have revealed that Col I Buhari
participated in the investigations that led to the trial of
most of the officers while Col TS Nurseman, Lt Col EO
Ugwu and Lt Col U Ukpe who are presently serving as
Director Legal Services in HQ 81 Div, HQ 1 Div and AHQ
Gar respectively, gave the legal advice that led to the
convening and trial of the officers affected by the court
martial.  Of equal significance, they are participating as
either the Prosecutor or Judge Advocate in the court
martial.
The Special Court Martial is expected to resume sitting
tomorrow for the defence counsels Femi Falana and Rtd
Maj OA Oyebanji to open their case. Notice has been
given in court that the military authorities should make
the former Chief of Defence Staff, former Chief of Army
Staff and Maj Gen JAH Ewansiha available as witnesses
in view of the testimony of General Ibrahim that new
equipment was never issued to the MNJTF.

Source: news rescue.