A Nigerian Army court martial in Enugu has sentenced Private Adamu Mohammed to death for murdering his girlfriend, while another soldier received 10 years for robbery

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

Also read: Unknown Gunmen Kill Two Soldiers In Enugu

The verdict was announced on Tuesday by Lt.-Col. Jonah Unuakhalu, the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, who affirmed that the judgment followed due legal procedures and a thorough consideration of the crime.

The 11-member GCM, inaugurated on February 18, 2025, by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 82 Division, Maj.-Gen. Oluyemi Olatoye, reached a unanimous decision.

Delivering the judgment, the President of the GCM, Brig.-Gen. Sadisu Buhari, stated that Mohammed was found guilty of murder, an offense punishable under Section 106(a) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap A20, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004.

Brig.-Gen. Buhari explained that the panel’s verdict was a result of a meticulous examination of the case details, the soldier’s service history, and pleas for leniency from both the accused and his legal counsel.

However, the court ultimately upheld the law to its fullest extent in the interest of justice and societal order.

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. Sadisu Buhari, President of the GCM.

In a separate ruling, the same GCM sentenced another soldier, Private Abubakar Yusuf, to 10 years imprisonment for robbery at a shopping mall in Enugu.

The panel found Yusuf guilty under Section 107(1)(b) of the Armed Forces Act. Despite considering a plea for leniency, the GCM, due to its inability to reach the unanimous decision required for the maximum mandatory sentence under Section 107(2), relied on Section 140(3) to issue a 10-year sentence.

Brig.-Gen. Buhari noted that the verdicts for both soldiers are subject to confirmation by the appropriate authority, marking the conclusion of their respective trials.

The Nigerian Army, in its official statement, reiterated its unwavering commitment to maintaining discipline, professionalism, and the highest ethical standards within its ranks.

The statement emphasized that these isolated incidents do not reflect the core values of the Nigerian Army and that swift and decisive actions are consistently taken to ensure justice and accountability.