A military court in Abuja has convicted a former Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Olusegun Adeniyi, and demoted him by at least 3 years; months after a video of him complaining about lack of weapons for troops fighting Boko Haram in the North-East went viral on social media.
Adeniyi made news headlines in March 2020 after the video was leaked on social media. He was subsequently removed as Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, transferred to the Nigerian Army Resource Centre in Abuja, and afterwards, moved to the Army Headquarters in Abuja, where he faced Court Martial.
Ruling on the matter on Monday, November 30, 2020, the military tribunal found Adeniyi guilty of violating military social media guidelines and ordered that he be demoted by three years.
It was reported that Adeniyi’s aide, Tokunbo Obanla, who admitted to posting the video on social media, was equally prosecuted alongside the general and sentenced to 28 days in jail with hard labor.
According to the military law, both convictions are subject to confirmation by the military board before it can take effect. Reacting to the judgment, Adeniyi’s lawyers stated that they would appeal the military judgment before higher military authorities.
