Director, 68 Military Reference Hospital, Yaba,  Lagos State, Major General Patrick Falola was on Friday demoted to the rank of Brigadier General by a military court martial on charges admitting students for clinical training without permission from higher authority..

Major General Falola was alleged to have admitted international students from Espan Formation University, Cotonou in Benin Republic between July and September, 2016.

Falola, who is also a Commander of the Armed Forces Hospital in Kano was found on the count one of the two counts against him.

President of the Special Court Martial, Air Vice Marshal James Gbum, therefore sentenced him to a reduction in rank from Major General to Brigadier General on count one of the charge.

He was, however, discharged and acquitted of the second count of fraudulent misapplication of the hospital’s property.

Wing Commander Enokela Onyilo-Uloko (retd) lawyer  to the accused,  however said the conviction has no legal backing and was an attempt to tarnish the clean service record of his client.

According to him, there is no law stating that senior officers must  take permission from the higher authority before allowing such training. He therefore said his client will appeal the of the Special Court Martial.

The judgement of the Army Court Martial is subject to confirmation by the Nigerian Army Council.