A former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian Army Properties Limited (NAPL), Major General Umar Mohammed, has been found guilty of misappropriating funds from the organization by a Nigerian Army Special Court martial in Abuja.
Despite initially pleading not guilty to all charges, Major General Umar Mohammed was found guilty on 14 out of the 18 charges pressed against him. This verdict was delivered at a resumed sitting on Tuesday by an eight-man panel led by Major General James Myam.
The first count was brought under Section 383(1) of the Criminal Code Act, Cap. c38 law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and is punishable under Section 390(7). The charge was also brought pursuant to Section 114 of the Armed Forces Act, Cap. A20 (2004). The panel clarified that the prosecution counsels called upon 24 witnesses, while the defense called upon two.
In its judgment, the panel sentenced the convicted senior officer to five years in prison for some of the offenses, while others carried sentences of seven and two years, respectively. These sentences are set to run concurrently. Additionally, the court ordered Mohammed to refund a certain amount to the NAPL.
Major General Myam explained that these sentences are subject to the confirmation of a “confirming authority”.
Prior to his sentencing, Mohammed had been held in the detention facility of the Nigerian Army at Mogadishu Cantonment, Abuja, where he spent over two years.