Army probes soldiers roles in Ekiti, Osun gov polls

Army probes soldiers’ roles in Ekiti, Osun gov polls 20 Oct 2015 8:50 PM The Nigerian Army has set up a high-powered panel to probe alleged malpractices by its personnel in the governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states in 2014. Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said in an electronic statement on Tuesday that the panel was also mandated to probe allegations of misconduct against Army personnel in some states during the 2015 general elections. He said the board was also given the mandate
to review the roles played by the formations and units of the Army in the last elections and other operations in the country. Usman added that the Army authorities decided to set up the panel as part of the efforts to prevent instances of unprofessional conduct by its personnel in the future. He said, “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 governorship elections in 2014. “The BOI is to investigate the alleged unprofessional and unethical conduct of some Nigerian Army personnel in Ekiti and Osun states’ governorship elections in 2014, as well as in any other state in Nigeria where other allegations of misconduct were made during the 2015 general elections. “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.   “The essence of the Board is to prevent future unprofessional conduct by officers and men in the performance of their constitutional roles while strengthening Nigerian Army’s support for democratic values and structures in Nigeria.” Meanwhile, the Army has called on the international community to prevail of members of the Boko Haram sect to renounce their membership of the sect and desist from further acts of terrorism. Usman, who made the call in another statement, warned the terrorists to surrender in order to avoid serious military action.