. | . |
Nigeria frees soldiers jailed for mutiny over pay Abuja (AFP) Dec 3, 2010 The Nigerian army Friday freed 27 soldiers convicted last year by a military court of mutiny, commuting their prison terms to discharge from the service, an official statement said. "The decision, which was the outcome of the Army Council sitting in Abuja today (Friday), also commuted the sentences on the soldiers from imprisonment to discharge from military service," the army headquarters statement said. "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," it added. The soldiers had originally in April last year been sentenced to life imprisonment after which their convictions were reduced in August last year to seven years in prison following their mitigation pleas. A military court had sentenced the soldiers, including three women, who had served as UN peacekeeepers in Liberia, to life imprisonment following their protest over pay. They had staged the demonstration in Akure, capital of southwestern Ondo State, in July last year. The court martial found them guilty of mutiny for protesting over not getting paid their foreign mission allowances when they served in Liberia between 2007 and 2008 The soldiers' lawyer, Femi Falana, had accused some Nigerian officials of diverting the allowance money.
Share This Article With Planet Earth
Related Links Africa News - Resources, Health, Food
I.Coast closes borders amid election chaos: army Abidjan (AFP) Dec 2, 2010 Ivory Coast closed its land, sea and air borders Thursday until further notice and ordered foreign television news stations to be blocked amid turmoil over its contested presidential election. "The land, air and sea borders are closed to all movement of people and goods from this Thursday at 8:00 pm (2000 GMT) until further notice," the army said in a statement on state television. A sep ... read more |
|
The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2010 - SpaceDaily. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |