The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal by the Nigerian Army seeking to overturn the acquittal of Major Akeem Oseni, who was previously convicted of manslaughter in connection with the death of a junior colleague, Lance Corporal Benjamin Collins.
Oseni was initially sentenced to 10 years in prison by a General Court Martial on February 7, 2020. However, he appealed the ruling, and the Court of Appeal overturned the judgment, declaring him innocent. The Nigerian Army then challenged this decision at the Supreme Court, seeking to reinstate his conviction.
The Incident and Court Proceedings
The incident occurred in 2017 when Oseni and three other officers were ordered to discipline Collins, who was accused of attempting a jailbreak. Oseni had stopped the disciplinary session shortly after it began, counselled the soldier, and summoned a superior officer, who further reprimanded Collins and ordered his return to the detention facility.
Later, while conducting routine checks, Oseni was informed that Collins was struggling with his leg cuffs. He immediately took action, summoning the officer in charge of the detention facility and transporting Collins to the Defence Headquarters Medical Centre, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Supreme Court Ruling
The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal due to procedural lapses, citing the Army’s failure to compile and transmit the necessary records. Justice Uwani Aji, who delivered the lead judgment, stated that the application for an order dismissing the appeal was granted as prayed.
Oseni was represented by a team of legal counsel, including David Ogundipe, Abdulwahab Abdulakeem, Aisha Okuribido, and Oluwafemi Oluwadamisi.
The Supreme Court’s ruling brings an end to the legal battle, upholding Oseni’s acquittal and clearing his name of the manslaughter conviction.