A General Court Martial (GCM) sitting at the Headquarters of the 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Enugu, has sentenced Private Adamu Mohammed to death by hanging for the murder of his girlfriend, Miss Hauwa Ali.
The court also convicted another soldier, Private Abubakar Yusuf, and sentenced him to 10 years imprisonment for robbery.
The verdicts followed a thorough trial process, during which the soldiers were arraigned for murder and robbery respectively.
In a statement issued by Lt. Col. Jonah Unuakhalu, Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 82 Division, it was revealed that the General Court Martial was inaugurated on February 18, 2025, by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division, Major General Oluyemi Olatoye.
The 11-member panel was tasked with handling cases of military personnel accused of serious offences that could not be summarily tried.
While delivering judgment, the President of the GCM, Brigadier General Sadisu Buhari, said the court found Private Adamu Mohammed guilty of murdering Miss Hauwa Ali, a crime punishable under Section 106 (a) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap A20 LFN 2004.
“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 Buhari declared.
He explained that the judgment was unanimous and based on a careful review of the facts, the accused’s career and service record, as well as the plea for leniency presented by the defence.
However, Brigadier General Buhari emphasized that “in the interest of societal decorum and justice for the deceased, the law had to be applied to its fullest.”
In a related judgment, Private Abubakar Yusuf was convicted of robbery at a mall within Enugu.
He was found guilty under Section 107(1)(b) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap A20 LFN 2004.
“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,” the GCM President announced.
He added that the court had considered the plea in mitigation from the accused and his counsel but upheld the sentence in the interest of discipline and the image of the Nigerian Army.
The Nigerian Army, in its statement, reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the highest standards of ethics and professionalism.
It stressed that while the misconduct of a few does not represent the institution’s core values, swift and decisive actions are always taken to ensure accountability.
“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.
