A General Court Martial at the 82 Division Headquarters, Nigerian Army, Enugu, has sentenced Private Adamu Mohammed to death by hanging for the murder of his girlfriend, and Private Abubakar Yusuf to 10 years in prison for robbery.
The verdicts followed the conclusion of separate trials for murder and robbery offences. According to a statement by Lieutenant Colonel Jonah Unuakhalu, Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, the 11-member panel was inaugurated on February 18, 2025, by Major General Oluyemi Olatoye to try erring personnel.
Brigadier General Sadisu Buhari, who presided over the court, said the decision to sentence Private Mohammed was reached after reviewing evidence, the soldier’s service record, and the defence’s plea for mitigation. The offence was tried under Section 106(a) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap A20, Laws of the Federation, 2004.
The court ruled that justice and public order necessitated the full application of the law, resulting in the death sentence for Mohammed.In a separate case, Private Yusuf was convicted of robbery at a mall in Enugu under Section 107(1)(b) of the same Act. Although mitigation was considered, the court could not reach a unanimous decision required for the maximum penalty, and therefore imposed a 10-year sentence under Section 140(3).
The sentences are pending confirmation by the relevant military authorities, marking the conclusion of both cases. The Army reiterated its stance on discipline, professionalism, and accountability, stating that the actions of a few do not represent the values of the institution and that strong corrective measures are consistently enforced. Source : https://punchng.com/
