A Special Army Court Martial has demoted a senior officer, Patrick Falola, from the rank of Major General to Brigadier-General, for admitting students for clinical training without permission from higher authorities.

Falola, Director, 68 Military Reference Hospital, Yaba, Lagos State, was arraigned on a two-count charge before a court martial presided over by James Gbum, an Air Vice Marshal.

Falola admitted international students from Espan Formation University, Cotonou, in Benin Republic, between July and September, 2016.

Gbum, the president of the court martial, said Falola’s conduct amounted to fraudulent use of the armed forces’ property.

He acquitted Falola on the charge of conduct prejudice the service, but convicted him on fraudulent misapplication of the hospital’s property.

Gbum said the filing and sentence were subject to confirmation by the Nigerian Army Council which was the confirming authority.

He said the convicted officer would maintain his rank until the council concludes the confirmation process.

The prosecuting counsel, Ukpe Ukpe, a Lt. Col., told journalists that the convicted officer was arraigned for using the Nigerian army’s property to train students from neighbouring Benin Republic without following the necessary procedure.

Ukpe said the judgment was a balanced one as the court was very liberal in meting out punishment.

The defence council, Enokela Onyilo-Uloko, a retired Wing Cdr., said the conviction had no legal backing and was an attempt to tarnish the clean record of his client.

Onyilo-Uloko said this was because there was no law stating that senior officers must take permission from higher authorities before allowing such training.

He said his client only did what his predecessors also did, which was no crime, adding that his client would appeal.