A Special Court Martial of the Nigerian Army has demoted the Director, 68 Reference Hospital, Yaba, in Lagos State, Major General Patrick Falola, to the rank of Brigadier General.
The demotion follows the conviction of the Major General who was accused of unlawfully admitting students for clinical training without due clearance from the army headquarters.
Channels TV reports that Falola admitted international students from Espan Formation University, Cotonou in Benin Republic between July and September, 2016.
President of the Special Court Martial, Air Vice Marshal James Gbum, said the accused was found guilty of the first count
Delivering judgment in the case against Falola, who is also a Commander of the Armed Forces Hospital in Kano, Gbum sentenced the accused officer to a reduction in rank from Major General to Brigadier General on count one of the charge.
He was, however, discharged and acquitted of the second count of fraudulent misapplication of the hospital’s property.
Lawyer to Falola, Wing Commander Enokela Onyilo-Uloko [Retd], however, criticised the conviction, saying it was a premeditated attempt to taint the unblemished record of his client whom he described as a distinguished medical officer with outstanding records.
Onyilo-Uloko said the judgment of the Special Court Martial has no legal backing
“On hearing of this kind of conviction, we know that it is based on nothing.
There is no law, no instruction put on the ground by the armed forces that the senior officer needs to take permission from the higher authority before allowing such training.
“No such law or instruction was tendered in evidence, but they are saying that he should use his initiative.
“When there is no law criminalising an act, when that act is done, it does not amount to criminal offence,” the lawyer said.
“No such law or instruction was tendered in evidence, but they are saying that he should use his initiative.
“When there is no law criminalising an act, when that act is done, it does not amount to criminal offence,” the lawyer said.
He further vowed to appeal the judgment of the Special Court Martial.
However, the judgement of the Army Court Martial is subject to confirmation by the Nigerian Army Council.
PM news
*Ah ah,the demotion is rather too much for the alleged crime...do they not send them memo warning them?
Good for them
ReplyDeleteMy dear Stella,
DeleteIf this was in a developed country, the penalty would have been worse!!!!
I love what was done to him!!!
Believe me, those under him that used to indulge in such corrupt practices will all desist from it!!!
"If they can do this to a whole Manor General, then they fit just chase me from Army if I commit same!!!
#ScapeGoat #DealWithTheStrongestSoOthersCanHaveTheFearOfGod
Does this decrease dollar price????
ReplyDeleteTruly if the supposed crime isn't stated in the army constitution then he stands blameless. Not unless he signed otherwise.
DeleteThis is really too much for such offence
ReplyDeleteHmmmmmmm change is here to stay
ReplyDeleteChai my former HOD.... He is a good man.
ReplyDeleteWhy is this story in the media ?
ReplyDeleteEyaaah!!! I know this doctor oo, he's part of our programme. The military doesn't take rubbish. Poor Falola
ReplyDeleteThis demotion is baseless and driven by high-handedness.
ReplyDeleteNigerian army with their incredulous laws. The accused has a right of appeal. Inukwa!!
ReplyDeleteThis life ehn!!! See as they are punishing a good man. Prior to the time he was made d commander of dt hospital, we knew how d hospital was in a bad state. He became d commander and within 3mths ,everything has changed ,you need to see reformation and transformation at its peak which were visible.The man even built an ICU centre for them ,bought all d medical gadgets and was about to be commissioned when he was roped into ds offence (imagine d biggest military hospital without ICU). The only thing he did (whc was to generate funds for d hospital development) was d admission of students from Cotonou university into the Army schl of nursing for practical skills acquisition (since he had a lot of projects in mind)
ReplyDeleteUnlike d previous commanders of the hospital (esp d one before him and nobody probed dem),this man didn't embezzle the hospital's funds,yet he was crucified while trying to make more funds for hospital use.
Only God will reward his good heart and those who work in d military hospital can even testify to this, as at today, he is one of their best commanders.
Nigeria government is known for punishing a good man while offenders go scot free.
God bless you for having the mind to say the truth
Delete@ The bitter truth: Indeed you know what is going on! This witch hunt is so disheartening and I pray God vindicates him. How can a law that doesn't exist be broken?! How? And how can you demote someone for something like this? May God arise and put the wicked to shame. I pray those who hear his appeal are honest men who fear God and will do the right thing otherwise this will be a sad, sad day for the medical corps.
ReplyDeleteYes Nigeria punishes good people while bad GI scot free. God bless you
Delete