Army sets up panel to probe soldiers’ conduct during Ekiti, Osun polls

CONSEQUENT to the string of complaints that trial the conduct of security operatives at last year’s gubernatorial elections in Ekiti and Osun states, authorities of the Nigerian Army has constituted a Board of Inquiry (BoI) to investigate the alleged involvement of its personnel.

A late statement issued yesterday in Abuja by the spokesperson of the Army, Col. Sani Usman, said the board “is to investigate the alleged unprofessional and unethical conduct of some Nigerian Army personnel in Ekiti and Osun states’ gubernatorial elections 2014, as well as in any other state in Nigeria where other allegations of misconduct were made during the 2015 general elections.”

The statement reads “the Nigerian Army has set up a high powered Board of Inquiry to investigate among other things alleged malpractices and involvement of its personnel in Ekiti and Osun states gubernatorial elections in 2014.

“As part of its terms of reference, the BOI is to also review the involvement of the Nigerian Army formations/units and its personnel in elections and other duties in aid to civil authority.

“In addition, the Nigerian Army is also investigating suspicious financial transactions involved during the election.”

This, according to Usman, is to ensure that soldiers don’t get involved in any act that is contrary to their professional calling or below expected standards.

“The essence of the board is to prevent future unprofessional conduct by officers and men in the performance of the constitutional roles while strengthening Nigerian Army’s support to democratic values and structures in Nigeria,” he said.

He told The Guardian that the deadline for the submission of the board’s report and recommendations will be communicated at a later date.