‘Gen. Mohammed indicted for theft,’ Nigerian Army defends trial of property company’s GMD

The Nigerian Army has defended the trial of the former Group Managing Director of the Nigeria Army Property Limited (NAPL), Maj.-Gen. UM Mohammed.

In a statement issued on Sunday by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, the force said the ex-NAPL chief was put on trial following his indictment for sharp practices while in office.

The army was reacting to reports in the media that the trial of the senior officer was being conducted in secrecy.

He said: “The general is being tried having been indicted by a military police investigation and recommendation for trial.

“Therefore, the media report on the ongoing Court Martial process of Maj.-Gen. Mohammed is ill-conceived and campaign of calumny.

“Indeed, Maj.-Gen. Muhammed is facing army court-martial over alleged offences of theft of various sums of money belonging to NAPL and forgery.

“It is expedient to clear the air on the despicably false report and calculated attempt to cast aspersion on the ongoing court martial.”

He said the trial had already progressed to an advanced stage, adding that the prosecution had put forward the evidence against the general and closed its case.

READ ALSO: PDP demands Buratai’s probe over N1.8bn hidden in Abuja property

Nwachukwu revealed that the accused had opened his defence and testified as First Defence Witness (DW1).

“For the avoidance of doubts, without being sub-judicial, the former GMD NAPL is facing trial in relation to alleged offences of theft of various sums of money belonging to NAPL and forgery.

“These are all acts declared as offences punishable under the provisions of various extant penal laws in Nigeria.

“To set the records straight, upon investigation and indictment of the accused senior officer by military police investigations, the Army Headquarters convened a Special Court Martial.

“This is to try the senior officer as a procedure to legally recover the sums of money he allegedly fraudulently acquired from the coffers of NAPL during his tenure as GMD.

“The details of the outcome of the court martial will be provided at the end of the proceedings.

“It is instructive to point out, that trials are lawfully provided in the Armed Forces Act (AFA) as one of the disciplinary tools in the armed forces,” the spokesman added.

He insisted that the trial of the accused taking place at the Army Headquarters Command Officers’ Mess in Asokoro, Abuja was not shrouded in secrecy contrary to claims in several quarters.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now