Soldier sentenced to death for murder
A General Court Martial (GCM) sitting at the Headquarters, 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Enugu, has sentenced Private Adamu Mohammed to death by hanging for the murder of his girlfriend, Miss Hauwa Ali. Private Abubakar Yusuf was also sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for robbery committed at a mall in Enugu, Enugu State. These sentences were handed down following the conclusion of their respective trials.
The court martial, presided over by Brigadier General Sadisu Buhari, was inaugurated on February 18, 2025, by Major-General Oluyemi Olatoye to adjudicate cases involving erring personnel within the Division. The court found Private Mohammed guilty under Section 106(a) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap A20, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. According to Lieutenant-Colonel Jonah Unuakhalu, the panel unanimously arrived at its decision after a thorough review of the evidence, the service record of the accused, and a plea for mitigation by the defense counsel.
Brigadier General Buhari stated that in the interest of justice and societal order, the law must take its full course. Private Adamu Mohammed, with service number 21NA/80/6365, was sentenced to death by hanging for the charge of murder.
In a separate case, Private Yusuf was found guilty of robbery at a mall within Enugu metropolis. He was convicted under Section 107(1)(b) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap A20 LFN 2004. Although pleas for leniency were considered, the court, unable to reach a unanimous decision required for a maximum sentence under Section 107(2) of the Act, imposed a 10-year prison term based on Section 140(3). Private Abubakar Yusuf, with service number 23NA/85/12116, was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.
The sentences are subject to confirmation by the appropriate military authorities. The Nigerian Army reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining discipline and upholding the highest standards of ethics and professionalism, emphasizing that the actions of a few do not reflect the values of the institution and that swift measures are taken to ensure accountability and justice.
