Army Special Court sends General to prison, orders refund of stolen N3bn

Major General Umaru Mallam Mohammed, who was convicted on October 4, 2023, on 14 out of 18 counts charges brought against him by the Nigerian Army, has been sentenced by a Special Court Martial to 7 years in prison.

The President of the Special Court Martial, Major General James Myam, while pronouncing the sentences, also ordered the convicted senior officer to reimburse the Nigerian Army with $2,053,200 (2,053,200 US dollars) and N1,690,000 (1 billion, 690 million Nigerian Naira).

Although the total sentences for the general amounted to 49 years in prison, the court declared that they would run concurrently, resulting in a final sentence of 7 years.

The charges for which the senior officer was found guilty, the sentences, and the associated orders are as follows:

Count 1: Stealing (Contrary to section 323, sub-section 7 of the Armed Forces Act) – Guilty, sentenced to 5 years imprisonment, and ordered to repay $1,045,400 to the Nigerian Army Properties Limited.

Count 2: Stealing – Guilty, sentenced to 5 years imprisonment, and ordered to repay $400,800 to the Nigerian Army Properties Limited.

Count 3: Stealing – Guilty, sentenced to 5 years imprisonment, and ordered to repay $85,400 to the Nigerian Army Properties Limited.

Count 4: Stealing – Guilty, sentenced to 5 years imprisonment, and ordered to repay $35,300 to the Nigerian Army Properties Limited.

Count 5: Stealing (Contrary to section 383, sub-section 1 of the Criminal Code Act) – Guilty, sentenced to 5 years imprisonment, and ordered to repay $55,500 to the Nigerian Army Properties Limited.

Count 6: Stealing (Contrary to section 310 of the Criminal Code) – Guilty, sentenced to 5 years imprisonment, and ordered to repay $46,500 to the Nigerian Army Properties Limited.

The general was acquitted on Counts 7, 10, 11, 12, and 17, but found guilty on the following:

Count 8: Forgery (Contrary to section 362 of the Armed Forces Act) – Guilty, sentenced to 7 years imprisonment.

Count 9: Stealing – Guilty, sentenced to 5 years imprisonment, and ordered to repay $430,800 to the Nigerian Army Properties Ltd.

Count 12: Conduct Contrary to Service Discipline – Guilty, sentenced to 2 years imprisonment.

Count 13: Theft – Guilty, sentenced to 5 years imprisonment, and ordered to repay N74 million to the Nigerian Army Properties Limited.

Count 14: Criminal Misappropriation – Guilty, sentenced to 2 years imprisonment, and ordered to repay N590 million to the FCC NAM Limited.

Count 16: Criminal Misappropriation – Guilty, sentenced to 2 years imprisonment, and ordered to repay N255 million to the Nigerian Army Properties Limited. Additionally, the court ordered the convicted general to repay another sum of N550 million to FCC Nigerian Army Properties Ltd.

Count 18: Criminal Misappropriation (Contrary to section 308, Laws of Northern Nigeria) – Guilty, sentenced to 2 years imprisonment, and ordered to repay N172 million to the Nigerian Army Properties Limited.

President of the Special Court Martial, Major General James Myam, disclosed that the sentences are subject to confirmation by the Army Council, which is the appropriate confirming authority.

It is worth noting that the accused officer, who served as the Executive Vice Chairman and GMD of the Nigerian Army Properties Limited, pleaded not guilty to the allegations and presented two witnesses. The prosecution, on the other hand, called 24 witnesses. The charges were brought under various sections of the Criminal Code Act and the Armed Forces Act, among others.

After the sentencing, the President of the Court announced that the court had been adjourned sine die.