Some soldiers who were dismissed by various courts-martial have appealed to the Presidential Investigation Panel to Review Compliance of the Armed Forces with Human Rights Obligations and Rules of Engagement to hear their complaints against the Nigerian Army.

Among them are former Commander of the Multi-National Joint Task Force, Enitan Ransome-Kuti, Lt. Col. A. O. Ojo, and 54 soldiers who said they demanded weapons to fight insurgency.

The rest are Lance Corporals Bankole Taiwo, Ayodele Olawale and Isiah Olofu as well as Private Adebayo Gbenga.

The Justice Biobele Georgewill-led seven-man panel on Monday said it may not be able entertain the complaints of the soldiers bordering on decisions of a military tribunal.

But Femi Falana, lawyer to the soldiers on Monday insisted that the panel has the jurisdiction to hear the matter.

Falana conceded that his clients had pending appeals before the Court of Appeal challenging their convictions.

He however said the appeals does not mean the panel cannot recommend that the President grant them a pardon.

Falana added, “We concede the fact that all the petitioners have pending appeals challenging their convictions and sentence passed on them by some courts-martial. That appeal was brought pursuant to Section 240 of the constitution.

“No where is it stated in the terms of reference of the panel that it shall not look at cases in court.

“What we have before this honourable panel is a prayer that this panel should recommend to the President to grant pardon to the petitioners.

“In the cases pending before the Court of Appeal, their prayer is for the conviction to be set aside but, here, we are asking for pardon.”

He said the request for pardon followed the emergence of facts about how funds earmarked for purchase of arms to prosecute the counter-insurgency war in the North-East were diverted.

“After the trial, facts emerged that huge funds earmarked for the purchase of weapons were diverted.

“The matter before you is not before the Court of Appeal. This matter goes to the root of violation of human rights in the military,” he stated.

The Nigerian Army’s lawyer, Biola Oyebanji, urged the panel not to listen to the soldiers.

The counsel said, “The prayer in the memoranda does not have anything on pardon. To draw in pardon by inference is a belated attempt by the petitioners. It is an afterthought.

“They do not need the setting up of this panel to exercise their right.

“Having conceded that they have exploited other means to entertain their case, it has become duplicitous to burden this panel with the same application.”

The Justice Georgewill-led panel fixed ruling for Wednesday.