Order By The Nigerian Army Council For The Immediate Release Of Brigadier-General Enitan Ransome Kuti From Confinement Is Delightful And Welcomed – Cacol, Brk & Pad

The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), Beko Rights Klub (BRK), and the Peoples’ Action for Democracy (PAD) are delighted with the news of the order by the Nigerian Army Council for the immediate release of Brigadier-General Enitan Ransome Kuti from confinement for ‘mutiny’ against him following the decision of the Military to Court martial him after the Baga massacre carried out by Boko Haram Insurgents in January 2015.

We are especially pleased and welcome the release with a sense of fulfilment as we had maintained that the Brigadier General Enitan was innocent based on the fact that he acted more like a patriot and demonstrated a good sense of leadership as the decision he took actually saved lives of many of our gallant soldiers that would have been lost in the Boko Haram ambush that he retreated from.

We had stated in our letter to President Muhammadu Buhari sent through the Lagos State Governor and the Lagos House of Assembly on the occasion of the 10 year commemoration of Dr. Beko Ransome Kuti’s demise that “we are strongly convinced that the revelations reeled out from the Arms procurement scandal and the DasukiGate confirm his innocence and patriotism when we recall the narratives that followed the Baga Massacre, in Borno state. In fact, we believe with those expositions, the actions of Brigadier-General Enitan and others are justiciable, reasonable and dialectical. What will a soldier do when his superiors have diverted funds meant to prepare him/her for an operation that involves risks of losing one’s live and troops, given that he/she also has been trained on the principle of self-preservation even in the fiercest battles?’’

We greatly commend Barrister Femi Falana (SAN) for his timely intervention in the case which drew public attention to the plight of Brigadier General Enitan and the circumstances of the case and all other Nigerians that rallied round to call for the National pardon of the Brigadier General.

We implore the Nigerian Army Council to reconsider its’ decision to demote Brigadier General Enitan to the rank of Colonel as we believe he instead deserve promotion for saving the lives of troops that he led.

Wale Salami

Media Coordinator, CACOL