Army court martial sentences soldier to death, another 10 years imprisonment

A General Court Martial (GCM) sitting astatine the Headquarters, 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Enugu has sentenced a soldier, Private Adamu Mohammed, to decease by hanging and another, Private Abubakar Yusuf, to 10 years imprisonment for the offences of execution and robbery for which the soldiers stood trial.

Lieutenant Colonel Jonah Unuakhalu, Acting Deputy Director, 82 Division, Army Public Relations, successful a connection said the sentences which were handed down aft owed consideration.

DAILY POST recalls that the GCM was inaugurated by the General Officer Commanding, 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Oluyemi Olatoye, connected February 18, 2025, to effort erring unit wrong the Division for assorted offences, which could not beryllium disposed of summarily.

The President of the GCM, Brigadier General Sadisu Buhari, portion delivering the judgement connected the archetypal accused, Private Adamu Mohammed, stated that helium was recovered blameworthy of the offence of the execution of his girlfriend, Miss Hauwa Ali, an offence punishable nether Section 106 (a) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap A20 LFN 2004.

The judgement, which was unanimous, helium explained, was arrived astatine aft cautious reappraisal of the facts earlier the GCM, the vocation and work grounds of the soldier, and the compassionate plea for mitigation presented by the accused and his counsel.

“Given this, the GCM has determined that the accused soldier, 21NA/80/6365 Private Adamu Mohammed, is hereby sentenced to decease by hanging for the complaint of murder”, Brigadier General Sadisu said.

In the aforesaid vain, the General Court Martial arsenic sentenced different soldier, Private Abubakar Yusuf, to 10 years imprisonment for robbery astatine a promenade wrong Enugu.

The President of the GCM stated that the sheet recovered Private Yusuf blameworthy of robbery, punishable nether Section 107(1)(b) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap A20 LFN 2004.

Although the tribunal attentively considered the plea successful mitigation presented by the accused and his counsel for leniency, the instrumentality was applied to uphold societal decorum and support the estimation of the army.

“However, owed to the inability of the GCM to scope a unanimous determination required to enforce the maximum mandatory punishment prescribed nether Section 107(2) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap A20 LFN 2004, the GCM, relying connected 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,” Brigadier General Sadisu Buhari announced.

The President of the GCM emphasised that the findings and sentences pronounced for some soldiers stay taxable to confirmation by the confirming authority, marking the decision of their trials.

The NIgerian Army reassured the wide nationalist of its unwavering committedness to upholding the highest standards of morals and nonrecreational behaviour successful the discharge of its duties.

It said the incorrect actions of a fewer bash not bespeak the values of the institution, swift and decisive measures are ever taken to guarantee accountability and justice.