Court Martial dismisses air officer for defiling 14-year-old internally displaced girl

The teenager, Zara Ali, an IDP at Bakassi camp from Marte Local Government Area of Borno State and her twin sister reportedly went to fetch firewood outside Bakassi IDP camp on September 29, 2018. Flight Lieutenant Owerem, who was then Officer Commanding the Armed Forces Special Force Battalion at Delwa, was alleged to have stopped them and later asked the girl to follow him to a nearby bush where he forcefully had canal knowledge of her. He was subsequently arrested and investigated by the Theatre Special Court Martial last year. Flight Lieutenant Martins Owerem stood trial on three counts charge, defilement, disobedience to standing order and assault. The President of the Special Court Martial, Maj-Gen. Yakubu Auta, while delivering his judgment on Monday at Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri after listening to fierce arguments from both prosecution and defense team, said the officer was found guilty on two count charges out of three leveled against him which are punishable under the Armed Forces Act. “This sentence is as follows: On count one charged you, you are hereby dismissed from the Armed Forces and on the third count charged you, you are hereby demoted from your current rank of Fight Lieutenant to flying lieutenant with three years loss of seniority on the rank of your mates. “On the second count charged you are not guilty. “I hereby announce that the hearing of this case is concluded,” Maj-Gen. Yakubu affirmed. Other members of the Special Court Martial were Maj-Gen. Kabiru Salahudeen, Maj-Gen. Uthman and Group Captain Famuyiwa. According to the special court judgment, the case is a routine occurrence of the military to ensure disciplinary measures against erring personnel. Daily Trust had earlier reported that the girl was brought into Bakassi camp with bloodstains on her by a good Samaritan who assisted them. She was said to have been taken to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Hospital in the camp where they ascertained her condition.]]>