10th February, 2016
Eromosele Ebhomele
A human rights group, the Beko Rights Klub, on Wednesday appealed for the immediate and unconditional release as well as reinstatement of Brigadier-General Enitan Ransome-Kuti, son of the late Beko Ransome-Kuti, and other soldiers accused of mutiny during the administration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.
Several hundreds of soldiers were jailed by a military tribunal which found them guilty of either protesting or refusing to fight insurgent Boko Haram as a result of alleged non-availability of arms.
Many Nigerians have been calling for the release of the soldiers since revelations emerged that monies meant for arms purchase to prosecute the fight, were shared by some politicians and their associates.
Led by its convener, Comrade Debo Adeniran, the group currently marking the 10th anniversary of the death of Beko, a rights activist, stormed the Lagos State House of Assembly with placards and insisted that recent revelations in the country attested to the fact that Brigadier-General Enitan was not guilty of any act of mutiny.
The group submitted a petition to the State House of Assembly asking the House to do all within its power to get the National Assembly to compel the Federal Government to ensure the prompt release and reinstatement of the Brigadier-General and others.
“The Beko Rights Klub is utilising this occasion of the commemoration of Beko’s passage to call on the Nigerian government to grant Brigadier-General Enitan Ransome Kuti, son of our late hero, Beko Ransome-Kuti, national pardon with regards to the case of ‘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.
“Brigadier-General Enitan remains in prison to date, even though history has absolved him,” said Adeniran.
Adeniran, who is also the chairman, Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL, insisted that rather than heap blame on the hapless Brigadier-General, he should be held shoulders high, bearing in mind that his innocence had been proven by the ongoing arms scandal in the country.
“We are strongly convinced that the revelations reeled out from the arms procurement scandal confirm his innocence and patriotism.
“In fact, we believe, with those expositions, the actions of Brigadier-General Enitan and others are justifiable, reasonable and dialectical,” he added.
Majority Leader of the House, Sanai Agunbiade, who spoke with the protesters, said that members of the House shared the same optimism with the group, especially in the quest to have a country where justice, fairness and obedience to the rule of law prevailed.
He promised that the House would do the needful in ensuring that the right thing was done concerning the group’s demand.
“The cause you are fighting for is humanitarian and just. This is a cause we also believe in and which every Nigerian who believes in what is right also believes in. Therefore, we can assure you that your petition will be thoroughly looked into,” he told the group.