Military court sentences army General to 7 years in prison

A Special Military Court in Abuja on Tuesday sentenced the former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian Army Properties Limited, Maj. Gen. Umaru Mohammed, to seven years imprisonment for fraud.

The army authorities arraigned Mohammed on an 18-count charge of stealing, forgery, misappropriation, and conspiracy.

The convict was accused of stealing $1.04 million while serving as NAPL GMD between May 7, 2019, and June 24, 2021.

The army authorities also alleged that the defendant directed one Maj. Usman and one other now at large to collect money from ship owners in dollars.

Mohammed was equally indicted for taking N74 million from the company’s account on August 22, 2019,

He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

READ ALSO: Alleged fraud: Military court to deliver judgement in army General’s case October 10

At Tuesday’s proceeding, the court found the army General guilty on 14 counts and sentenced him to seven years in prison.

He was also ordered to pay back $2,178,900 and N1.65 billion to NAPL.

The President of the court, Maj.-Gen. James Myam, who read out the sentence, said the verdict was based on the provisions of the Criminal Code Act Cap C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, and section 174 of the Armed Forces Act Cap 20 Laws, 2004.

He said the court handed out the sentence after due consideration of the plea for mitigation by the defence counsel.

Myam said: “These sentences of this special court-martial are all to run concurrently and are subject to the confirmation of the confirming authority.

“This sentence is dated this day, the 10th of October 2023, and the court is hereby adjourned Sine die.”

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