Former Group Managing Director (GMD) of Nigerian Army Properties Limited (NAPL), Major General Umar Mohammed, received a seven-year prison sentence from a Nigerian army Court Martial. This followed his guilty pleas to charges of Stealing, Forgery, Conspiracy, and Misappropriation of Funds, involving a nearly $2.7 million and N1.6 billion fraud.
During the court proceedings, Major General Mohammed was brought in on a wheelchair due to undisclosed health issues. The Army Court Martial, led by Major General James Myam, outlined that the charges were brought under relevant sections of the Criminal Code Act and the Armed Forces Act.
The prosecution presented 24 witnesses, while the defendant called two witnesses during the trial. The court handed down various sentences, with some counts carrying 5 years, 7 years, and 2 years of imprisonment, which would run concurrently. Furthermore, it was ruled that the convicted senior officer should reimburse NAPL for certain funds.
The sentences are subject to confirmation by the “confirming authority.” Major General Mohammed was found guilty on 14 out of 18 counts, with sentences and charges as follows:
- Count 1: Stealing – 5 years imprisonment and a return of $1,045,400 to NAPL.
- Count 2: Stealing – 5 years imprisonment and a return of $480,000 to NAPL.
- Count 3: Stealing – 5 years imprisonment and a return of $85,400 to NAPL.
- Count 4: Stealing – 5 years imprisonment and a return of $35,300 to NAPL.
- Count 5: Stealing – 5 years imprisonment and a return of $55,500 to NAPL.
- Count 6: Stealing – 5 years imprisonment and a payment of $46,500 to NAPL.
- Count 7: Criminal conspiracy to commit forgery – Discharged and acquitted.
- Count 8: Forgery – 7 years imprisonment.
- Count 9: Theft – 5 years imprisonment and a payment of 430,800 dollars to NA Properties Limited.
- Count 10: Conspiracy to forge document – Discharged and acquitted.
- Count 11: Forgery – Discharged and acquitted.
- Count 12: Conduct to prejudice on discipline – 2 years imprisonment.
- Count 13: Theft – 5 years imprisonment and a payment of 74,000,000 naira.
- Count 14: Criminal misappropriation – 2 years imprisonment and a payment of 590,000,000 naira to NCC NAPL.
- Count 15: Criminal misappropriation – 2 years imprisonment and a return of 255,000,000 naira to NAPL.
- Count 16: Criminal misappropriation – 2 years imprisonment and a return of 559,172,000 naira to NAPL.
- Count 17: Criminal misappropriation – Not guilty.
- Count 18: Criminal misappropriation – 2 years imprisonment and a payment of 172,000,000 naira to NAPL.
The defense council requested that the sentence commence from the date Major General Mohammed is moved to a correctional center rather than an army detention center, but the court rejected this request.
These Court Martial trials are conducted in accordance with the Armed Forces Act (AFA) as a disciplinary measure within the Armed Forces.
