A General Court Martial convened at the Headquarters of the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army in Enugu has delivered verdicts in two separate cases involving erring personnel, handing a death sentence by hanging to Private Adamu Mohammed and a 10-year jail term to Private Abubakar Yusuf.
This development was confirmed in a statement released by Lt Col Jonah Unuakhalu, the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for the division.
He disclosed that, “The sentences were handed down after due consideration for the offences of murder and robbery for which the soldiers stood trial.”
The GCM, made up of 11 members, was constituted by the General Officer Commanding, 82 Division, Major General Oluyemi Olatoye, on February 18, 2025. Its mandate was to adjudicate on serious offences by soldiers within the Division that could not be summarily addressed.
While reading the judgement in the case of Private Adamu Mohammed, the President of the GCM, Brigadier General Sadisu Buhari, stated that the soldier was convicted of the murder of his girlfriend, Miss Hauwa Ali.
The charge was brought under Section 106(a) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap A20 LFN 2004.
Brigadier General Buhari noted, “The unanimous judgement he explained was arrived at after careful review of the facts before the GCM, the career and service record of the soldier, and the compassionate plea for mitigation presented by the accused and his counsel.”
Despite this, the panel held that justice had to take its course. “However, the President of the GCM noted that in the interest of societal decorum and justice for the deceased, the law had to be applied to its fullest.”
“Given this, the GCM has determined that the accused soldier, 21NA/80/6365 Private Adamu Mohammed, is hereby sentenced to death by hanging for the charge of murder,” Brigadier General Sadisu said.
In a related ruling, the same court martial handed down a 10-year prison sentence to Private Abubakar Yusuf after finding him guilty of committing robbery at a shopping mall in Enugu.
The President of the GCM, while giving the verdict, explained that the offence was punishable under Section 107(1)(b) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap A20 LFN 2004.
“Although the court attentively considered the plea in mitigation presented by the accused and his counsel for leniency, the law was applied to uphold societal decorum and protect the reputation of the army,” he said.
He further explained that, “However, due to the inability of the GCM to reach a unanimous decision required to impose the maximum mandatory punishment prescribed under Section 107(2) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap A20 LFN 2004, the GCM, relying on the provisions of Section 140(3) of the Armed Forces Act, hereby sentences the accused soldier, 23NA/85/12116 Private Abubakar Yusuf, to 10 years imprisonment.”
Both convictions are subject to confirmation by the appropriate authority, Brigadier General Buhari clarified, signaling the conclusion of the trial process.
The Nigerian Army has reiterated its commitment to upholding strict standards of ethics and discipline, distancing the institution from the actions of individuals who fall short of those ideals.
“The Army remains dedicated to maintaining discipline within its ranks, protecting the integrity of its operations and fostering trust and confidence among the people it serves,” the statement concluded.
