The Nigerian Army Special Court Martial, sitting in Abuja, reached a verdict in the case of Major General Umaru Mohammed.
He was on Tuesday convicted on corruption-related charges and sentenced to a seven-year prison term and issued a substantial order for financial restitution.
Maj. Gen. Mohammed was the former Group Managing Director of Nigerian Army Properties Limited (NAPL).
Background
The charges brought against Maj. Gen. Mohammed, encompassed a total of 18 counts, including accusations of forgery, misappropriation of funds, and conspiracy.
Despite pleading not guilty to all charges, the court martial found him guilty on 14 counts.
During the court proceedings, the defense counsel for Maj. Gen. Umaru Mohammed, Lekan Ojo (SAN), made an oral application.
He invoked Section 157 of the Armed Forces Act, requesting that his client be placed in a custodial center rather than an army detention facility.
Ojo further argued that the court martial’s sentences should commence from the day of the pronouncement
Each of the guilty counts has resulted in a five-year prison sentence, with the sentences set to run concurrently.
However, the court martial declined the application, leading to the incarceration of Maj. Gen. Mohammed in line with the verdict
Alongside the prison terms, Maj. Gen. Mohammed has been mandated to make substantial financial restitutions.
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Court’s Decision
Delivering judgement, the eight -man panel led by Maj. Gen. James Myam, cited 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, as the basis for the sentence.
Maj.-Gen. Myam explained that the sentences of the special court-martial are to run concurrently, subject to the confirmation of the confirming authority.
On count one, Maj.-Gen. Mohammed was sentenced to five years in prison and ordered to refund $1.04 million to NAPL for count one, which pertained to theft.
For count two, he received a five-year prison term, along with the directive to pay back $400,800 to NAPL.
Similar sentences and refund orders were issued for counts three through six, focusing on varying amounts of stolen funds.
Count seven was the sole charge from which Maj.-Gen. Mohammed was discharged and acquitted.
Nevertheless, he was sentenced to seven years in prison for count eight.
For the remaining charges of which he was convicted, sentences of five and two years imprisonment were imposed.