The human rights lawyer, Femi Falana ( SAN), on Thursday has condemned the action of the federal government by releasing a list of the suspects involved in the death of the 17 soldiers in Okuama community in Delta State.
Falana made this statement on Thursday, after the release of 8 person declared wanted by the Defence Headquarter due to alleged involvement in the cruel murder of the soldiers.
He stated that it is trite law that the police and security agencies lack the power to declare any suspect wanted without a court order
According to him, “The decision of the defence headquarters to declare the murder suspects wanted is completely illegal.
“Let the federal government direct the defence headquarters to hand over the investigation of the suspects involved in the gruesome murder of the 17 officers and soldiers.
READ MORE: Chelsea-Set-to-Remove-Todd-Boehly-as-Chairman
“It ought to be pointed out that murder is not a military offence to warrant investigation by the defence headquarters. If the federal government fails to call the defence headquarters to order, the case concerning the tragic murder of the soldiers will be completely bungled”.
Reacting to their death during their burial ceremony on Wednesday, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu promised to punish perpetrators of the heinous crime, advising the elders and chiefs of Okuoma to help the military in fishing out the gunmen who committed the barbaric crime.
His words: “I want to make it clear, once more, that those who committed this heinous crime will not go unpunished”.Assuring Nigerians that the culprits must be caught and brought to book, Tinubu opined: “We will find them and our departed heroes will get justice.
However, commenting on the wanted lists published today by the Nigerian army, the outspoken lawyer, warned the military not to bungle the case of the slain soldiers.
“The presiding judge, Justice Othman Musa ruled that though the EFCC could declare as wanted persons who fail to honour its invitation for investigation, it could only do so if it obtains a court order for that purpose. So, the decision of the defence headquarters to declare the murder suspects wanted is completely illegal”, Falana added.
