The GCM has determined that the accused soldier, 21NA/80/6365 Private Adamu Mohammed, is hereby sentenced to death by hanging for the charge of murder.
A soldier, Private Adamu Mohammed, has been sentenced to death by hanging and another soldier, Private Abubakar Yusuf, to a 10-year prison sentence by a General Court Martial (GCM) located at the Headquarters, 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Enugu.
Yesterday, Lt.-Col. Jonah Unuakhalu, the Acting Deputy Director of Public Relations for the 82nd Division Army, issued a statement in Enugu stating that the sentences were imposed after a thorough examination of the homicide and robbery offenses for which the soldiers were on trial.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Oluyemi Olatoye, inaugurated the 11-member GCM on February 18 to adjudicate the officers for a variety of charges.
Mohammed was convicted guilty of murdering his girlfriend, according to GCM President Sadisu Buhari. Brigadier General Buhari said it violates Section 106 (a) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap A20 LFN 2004.
After thorough assessment of the soldier’s circumstances, career, and service record, and the accused and his counsel’s sympathetic plea for mitigation, the GCM president remarked, the ruling was unanimous.
However, the GCM President stated that the law must be fully applied for societal decorum and justice for the deceased.
“Given this, the GCM has determined that the accused soldier, 21NA/80/6365 Private Adamu Mohammed, is hereby sentenced to death by hanging for the charge of murder.”
Private Abubakar Yusuf was similarly convicted of robbery at an Enugu mall and given a 10-year prison term by the General Court Martial. According to the GCM president, Private Yusuf was found guilty of robbery under Section 107(1)(b) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap A20 LFN 2004.
“Although the court attentively considered the plea in mitigation presented by the accused and his counsel for leniency, the law was applied to uphold societal decorum and protect the reputation of the army.
“However, due to the inability of the GCM to reach a unanimous decision required to impose maximum mandatory punishment prescribed under Section 107(2) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap A20 LFN 2004, the GCM, relying on provisions of Section 140 (3) of the Armed Forces Act.
“The General Court Martial, hereby, sentences the accused soldier, 23NA/85/12116 Private Abubakar Yusuf, to 10 years’ imprisonment.”
The GCM president stressed that the soldiers’ verdicts and punishments must be confirmed by the confirming authority to end their trials.
“The NIgerian Army reassures the public of its commitment to upholding the highest standards of ethics and professional conduct in the discharge of its duties.
“The wrong actions of a few do not reflect the values of the institution, swift and decisive measures are always taken to ensure accountability and justice.
“The Army remains dedicated to maintaining discipline within its ranks, protecting the integrity of its operations as well as fostering trust and confidence among the people it serves,” the statement added.