Court sentences soldier to death for girlfriend’s murder, jails another for robbery

A General Court Martial (GCM) convened at the Headquarters of the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army in Enugu has sentenced Private Adamu Mohammed to death by hanging for the murder of his girlfriend, following a detailed legal process.

The sentence was delivered on Tuesday and confirmed in a statement by the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, Lt.-Col. Jonah Unuakhalu.

The GCM, a panel of 11 military officers, was inaugurated on February 18, 2025, by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 82 Division, Maj.-Gen. Oluyemi Olatoye.

According to the President of the GCM, Brig.-Gen. Sadisu Buhari, the court found Private Mohammed guilty under Section 106(a) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap A20, LFN 2004, which prescribes the death penalty for murder. The court’s decision followed careful deliberation on the facts of the case, the accused’s military service record, and a plea for leniency from the defence.

“Given this, the GCM has determined that the accused soldier, 21NA/80/6365 Pte Adamu Mohammed, is hereby sentenced to death by hanging for the charge of murder,” Brig.-Gen. Buhari announced.

In a separate ruling, the GCM also sentenced Private Abubakar Yusuf to 10 years imprisonment for robbing a shopping mall in Enugu. The soldier was convicted under Section 107(1)(b) of the Armed Forces Act.

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However, since the panel could not reach the unanimous decision required to impose the maximum sentence under Section 107(2), it relied on Section 140(3) to issue a 10-year custodial sentence.

“Despite considering the plea for leniency, the court has sentenced the accused soldier, 23NA/85/12116 Pte Abubakar Yusuf, to 10 years imprisonment,” said Brig.-Gen. Buhari.

Both verdicts are pending confirmation by the appropriate military authority, as required by law.

The Nigerian Army, in a follow-up statement, reaffirmed its commitment to discipline, professionalism, and justice within its ranks, stressing that such actions do not represent the core values of the military institution.

“Swift and decisive actions are taken to ensure justice and accountability. We remain dedicated to maintaining discipline, protecting the integrity of our operations, and building trust with the public,” the Army statement concluded.

These rulings underline the Army’s ongoing efforts to uphold internal accountability and reassure the public of its zero-tolerance stance on criminal conduct by personnel.