A General Court Martial (GCM) convened at the Headquarters of the 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Enugu, has sentenced Private Adamu Mohammed to death by hanging for murder, and Private Abubakar Yusuf to 10 years imprisonment for robbery.
According to Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations 82 Division Nigerian Army, Lt. Col. Jonah Unuakhalu, the court, comprising 11 members and inaugurated by Major General Oluyemi Olatoye on February 18, 2025, delivered its verdict after extensive deliberation on the charges brought against the soldiers.
Brigadier General Sadisu Buhari, President of the GCM, stated that Private Mohammed was found guilty of murdering his girlfriend, Miss Hauwa Ali, in violation of Section 106(a) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap A20 LFN 2004. Despite a plea for leniency, the court ruled that the gravity of the offence warranted the maximum penalty.
“In the interest of justice and societal order, the GCM hereby sentences Private Adamu Mohammed to death by hanging,” Brigadier General Buhari announced.
In a separate ruling, Private Abubakar Yusuf was convicted of robbery at a shopping mall in Enugu, an offence punishable under Section 107(1)(b) of the same Act. Although the panel did not reach a unanimous decision required for the maximum sentence, it applied Section 140(3) to impose a 10-year prison term.
The sentences are subject to confirmation by the designated confirming authority, marking the conclusion of both trials.
In a statement following the verdict, the Nigerian Army reaffirmed its commitment to discipline, accountability, and justice, emphasizing that the actions of a few do not represent the values of the institution.
