Army drags General to court over Buhari’s death rumour

FOR alleged spreading false rumour that President Muhammadu
Buhari had died at a time he was receiving medical treatment over
an undisclosed ailment in the United Kingdom, a Nigerian Army
General is to face trial at a military court.

Besides, Brigadier-General Lym Hassan, according to a report
obtained from an online medium, which the Army authorities were yet
to react to as at the time of filing this report, would face the
court- martial on another one count charge of alleged demand of
$600,000 bribe from OPEMS Integrated Concepts Limited.

Although enquiry by our reporter from Army spokesman, Brigadier
General Sani Usman, through text and calls were without response as
a press time, it was learnt that the Army officer with enlistment
number (N/826), will face prosecution by a military court-martial
for falsely claiming that President Muhammadu Buhari had died when
he was hospitalized in London on a medical treatment.

Brigadier General Hassan, as gathered, was said to have equally
demanded the $600,000 as bribe from a contractor in the Federal
Ministry of Defence.

The online medium reported that the Nigerian Army Headquarters
has also preferred charges against the senior officer and is billed
to appear in the military court any moment.

According to the report, in the charge sheet, “the first of the
two-count charge stated that Brigadier-General Hassan, in a phone
conversation on January 17, told one Mr. Yarima Ibrahim, that
President Buhari was dead.”

The charge sheet, which it said was signed by Major-General JS
Malu, and dated October 11, quoted Mr Yerima’s address as 2nd
Avenue, EFAB Estate, Life Camp, Abuja.

” The alleged offense, the charge sheet stated, was “prejudicial
to good order and service discipline” and amounted to a
contravention of Section 103(1) of the Armed Forces Act (AFA) CAP
20 LFN 2004, “the report added.

It further added:” On the second count, Brigadier-General Hassan
was alleged to have, on February 24, demanded a bribe of $600,000
from OPEMS Integrated Concepts Limited.

“The demand was allegedly made in respect of a contract awarded
for the relocation of Nigeria Level 11 Hospital, Mali, to its
permanent site in Timbuktu. “

The Army Hadquarters, according to the charge sheet, said the
alleged offence” amounted to scandalous conduct and is a
contravention of Section 91 of Armed Forces.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence has denied that the offence
for which the General was being tried, had any link with contract
in the Ministry.

“The case of the said Army General currently standing trial at
Army Court Martial has no connection with award of any contract by
the Ministry of Defence, “the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali,
said.

FOR alleged spreading false rumour that President Muhammadu
Buhari had died at a time he was receiving medical treatment over
an undisclosed ailment in the United Kingdom, a Nigerian Army
General is to face trial at a military court.

Besides, Brigadier-General Lym Hassan, according to a report
obtained from an online medium, which the Army authorities were yet
to react to as at the time of filing this report, would face the
court- martial on another one count charge of alleged demand of
$600,000 bribe from OPEMS Integrated Concepts Limited.

Although enquiry by our reporter from Army spokesman, Brigadier
General Sani Usman, through text and calls were without response as
a press time, it was learnt that the Army officer with enlistment
number (N/826), will face prosecution by a military court-martial
for falsely claiming that President Muhammadu Buhari had died when
he was hospitalized in London on a medical treatment.

Brigadier General Hassan, as gathered, was said to have equally
demanded the $600,000 as bribe from a contractor in the Federal
Ministry of Defence.

The online medium reported that the Nigerian Army Headquarters
has also preferred charges against the senior officer and is billed
to appear in the military court any moment.

According to the report, in the charge sheet, “the first of the
two-count charge stated that Brigadier-General Hassan, in a phone
conversation on January 17, told one Mr. Yarima Ibrahim, that
President Buhari was dead.”

The charge sheet, which it said was signed by Major-General JS
Malu, and dated October 11, quoted Mr Yerima’s address as 2nd
Avenue, EFAB Estate, Life Camp, Abuja.

” The alleged offense, the charge sheet stated, was “prejudicial
to good order and service discipline” and amounted to a
contravention of Section 103(1) of the Armed Forces Act (AFA) CAP
20 LFN 2004, “the report added.

It further added:” On the second count, Brigadier-General Hassan
was alleged to have, on February 24, demanded a bribe of $600,000
from OPEMS Integrated Concepts Limited.

“The demand was allegedly made in respect of a contract awarded
for the relocation of Nigeria Level 11 Hospital, Mali, to its
permanent site in Timbuktu. “

The Army Hadquarters, according to the charge sheet, said the
alleged offence” amounted to scandalous conduct and is a
contravention of Section 91 of Armed Forces.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence has denied that the offence
for which the General was being tried, had any link with contract
in the Ministry.

“The case of the said Army General currently standing trial at
Army Court Martial has no connection with award of any contract by
the Ministry of Defence, “the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali,
said.