The Supreme Court has upheld the acquittal of Major Akeem Oseni, who had been convicted of manslaughter in connection with the 2017 death of a junior colleague, Lance Corporal Benjamin Collins.
Oseni, initially sentenced to 10 years in prison by a General Court Martial on February 7, 2020, appealed his conviction after a tragic incident in which he was involved in the discipline of Collins, who was accused of attempting to escape from custody.
The court-martial found Oseni guilty of manslaughter, although one of his co-accused, Captain S. Amosu, was acquitted, and two others, Major O. Osawe and Lieutenant Dogary, were later cleared by the Army Council in 2020.
Oseni’s appeal was initially successful at the Court of Appeal, which overturned his conviction, declaring him innocent. However, the Nigerian Army contested the ruling at the Supreme Court, seeking to reinstate his conviction. Unfortunately for the Army, they failed to provide the required documentation and records needed for the appeal.
In a decisive ruling delivered by Justice Uwani Aji on Wednesday, the Supreme Court dismissed the Army’s appeal, citing significant procedural lapses. “The application filed on 9/10/2023 to dismiss this appeal due to the failure to compile and transmit the record of appeal is hereby granted. The appeal, No. SC/CR/948/2023, is dismissed,” Justice Aji stated.
Oseni was represented by a legal team that included David Ogundipe, Abdulwahab Abdulakeem, Aisha Okuribido, and Oluwafemi Oluwadamisi. With this ruling, Major Oseni’s acquittal stands firm, marking the final chapter in a prolonged legal battle.
