Soldier Dismissed For Using Army General’s Car Battery Sends SOS To Buhari

Dear Editor,

A dismissed soldier, Emmanuel Ojo-Giwa, is appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene and order his reinstatement into the Nigerian Army after five years.

 Emmanuel Ojo-Giwa

                          

Mr. Ojo-Giwa, who was serving at the Ordinance Headquarters, Abati Barracks, Ojuelegba, Lagos, was dismissed from the Nigerian Army on January 28, 2010 for allegedly using the battery of a generating set in a retired General’s

residence located at NO 19, Ikoyi Crescent to start his vehicle which broke down.

He was one of the few soldiers manning the gate of the residence of Y.M Yaduma, a retired Major General, before he was summarily dismissed from service.

He was subsequently punished by the authority of the Nigerian Army which later set up a board of inquiry to look into the matter.

Before the panel of inquiry started its sitting, Mr. Ojo-Giwa, who was about to be promoted to the rank of corporal, was denied the promotion as part of the punishment for the offence he committed. 

He was later dismissed from the Nigerian Army.

While speaking with journalists in Lagos, Mr. Ojo- Giwa begged President Buhari to save his soul from hunger, saying he had been begging for assistance from people in order to survive.

He said his wife, Efe, divorced him a year after his ordeal began, adding, “Life has not been okay for me since I was dismissed from service. I have been going to meet my brothers and sisters to help with my daily needs; They are tired of helping me further.

“Please, help me beg President Buhari to render assistance for me to go back to me duty post. I wrote a letter to President Goodluck Jonathan but to no avail.”

Mr. Ojo- Giwa had tried to get redress through the court but has been unsuccessful.

He, through his lawyer, Yemi Adetoyinbo, on April 25, 2012, approached the court to seek redress over his client’s unceremonious dismissal.

Mr. Adetoyinbo prayed the court to reinstate his client, saying his dismissal did not follow due process.

The court, after the hearing form both parties, summoned the Nigerian army, then under the leadership of Azubuike Ihejerika, to appear before it over the matter.

Justice Stella Okeke, who later retired before the case was handed over to Justice Momoh Sanni.

But Justice Sanni later dismissed the case for ‘lack of merit’.

Culled from Premiumtimes

Sacked for using car Battery?na wah,if what he did was a crime,a punishment would have been okay,not to sack him outrightly!....or am i getting this wrong?