Army general bags seven years imprisonment for stealing $2.1m, N1.65b funds

A Nigerian Army Special Court-martial sitting in Abuja on Tuesday, October 10, sentenced a former Group Managing Director, Nigerian Army Properties Limited, Maj.-Gen. Umar Mohammed, to seven years imprisonment for stealing the sum of $2,178,900 and N1.65 billion belonging to the Nigerian Army Property Limited (NAPL).

Mohammed was sentenced after the court found him guilty of 14 count charges out of 18 count charges brought before the court, bordering on forgery, misappropriation of funds, and conspiracy among others.

The accused had, however, earlier pleaded not guilty to all the charges pressed against him.

At the resumed sitting on Tuesday where the judgment was given, the eight-man panel led by Maj.-Gen. James Myam stated that the convicted senior military officer was found guilty in 14 out of 18 charges.

Myam said that count one was brought under section 383(1) of the Criminal Code Act Cap c38 law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and punishable under section 390 (7), adding the charge was also brought pursuant to section 114 of the armed forces Act Cap A20 2004.

The charges and sentence are:

Count 1: Stealing 5 years imprisonment, and to return a total sum of 1,045,400.000 dollars to NA

Count 2: Stealing 5 years imprisonment. 480,000 dollars to NA

Count 3: Stealing 5 years imprisonment and relying on secti0 85,400 dollars to NA

Count 4: Stealing 5 years imprisonment and returning the sum of 35,300 dollars only to NA Properties

Count 5: Stealing 5 years imprisonment and to return the sum of 55,500 dollars to NA Pr

Count 6: Stealing and is sentenced to 5 years imprisonment and 174 of the Armed Forces Act cap 8 120 shall pay 46,500 dollars only to NA

Count 7 Criminal conspiracy to commit forgery (Not Guilty) Discharged and acquitted of

Court 8: Forgery (Guilty) sentenced to 7 years imprisonment.

Count 9: Offence is theft and is guilty and sentenced to 5 years imprisonment.. The special court-martial relying on 174 Ordered 430,800 dollars to NAPL.

Count 10: Conspiracy to forge document (Not Guilty) discharged and acquitted on count 10