After 10 years in prison S/Court frees a soldier accused of murder

After ten years in prison, the Supreme Court finally acquitted Sergeant Akawu Bala, a soldier who had been facing trial for alleged murder since 2012.

He was accused of shooting one Mr Isa Mohammed with AK-47 rifle on 12 December, 2012. Isa had died at Saint Gerald’s Catholic Hospital in Kaduna the following day.

Following the development, the army invoked Section 106 of the Armed Forces Act 2014 and sentenced Sergeant Akanu to death. But finding that the signature of General Officer Commanding (GOC) is missing in the charge sheet, Appeal Court in Kaduna, on February 17, 2017, overturned the death sentence after Akanu appealed the sentencing.

However, despite the appellate court’s decision, Akanu remained locked in prison. Isaac Udoka, who was representing the Nigerian Army, had continued to push for retrial but Akanu took further step at the Supreme Court.

Justice Helen Ogunwumiju, delivering his judgement, uphold Akanu’s testament that he had acted in self-defense and there acquitted him.

Court: Background of Isa Akanu’s trial

It was at the heat of Boko Haram insurgency in North East. According, Akanu Mohammed Isa and some men suspected to be insurgents were advancing towards the acquitted soldier in the night of the fateful day.

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Despite his warning them to stop advancing towards him, they kept coming.

This promptly him to fire weapon in the dark, killing Isa in the process.