The Special Court Martial convened by the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Quorra on Tuesday sentenced an Able Seaman, Ogbu Jonathan, to three years imprisonment for receiving a stolen vehicle.
Jonathan had pleaded not guilty to a two-count charge of absence from duty without permission and receiving a stolen property but was found guilty by the court martial.
Apart from the three-year imprisonment, the four-man court?also said that the accused would forfeit 15 days pay.
The rating, a staff of the Navigation and Direction Section of NNS Quorra, was accused of receiving a black Honda Accord “Discussion Continues’’ series car with registration number LSS 685 KJA belonging to one Mr Emma Ehiemere.
He was said to have received the vehicle from one Alhaji Saminaka, who is still at large.
The president of the panel, Cdr. M.B. Salisu, who delivered the judgment, said that the court was convinced that the accused, being a serving rating, was subject to the service laws.
“It is clear that if any service personnel wishes to travel, he must seek the permission of the appropriate authority before proceeding.
“Even the accused rating admitted before the court that he travelled to Port Harcourt without permission,’’ he said.
Salisu said it was established that Jonathan travelled, contrary to the terms and condition of the service, for the purpose of transacting a car deal in the company of one Stephen Atswabra, a civilian.
“There is no evidence before the court to establish a valid defence in law or in fact and based on the evidence before the court, the accused rating is guilty on the two-count charge,’’ he said.
Salisu stated that the judgment was subject to conformation by the Nigerian Naval Headquarters, Abuja
During proceedings, the accused had told the court that he received the vehicle from one Alhaji Saminaka, now at large on June 23 but claimed that it was a legitimate transaction.
He told the court that he was not told that it was a stolen vehicle.
The accused said that he received the vehicle in the company of his musician friend, Atswabra, who is operating at Celebrity Barber shop, Mami Market, Navy Town in?Ojo, near Lagos. ?
However, the vehicle was recovered through a tracking device in front of Atswabra’s shop at?Navy Town, two days after it was stolen from Port Harcourt.
Atswabra, who was handed over to the police for further investigation and possible prosecution, being a civilian, was among the five witnesses called by the panel.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after the judgment, Lt. Oluwaseun Adesiyan, the Naval Base Spokesperson, said that the trial was an indication that the navy had zero tolerance for indiscipline.(NAN)