Major General, Umar Mohammed begs 7-year imprisonment for theft

A former Group Managing Director of Nigerian Army Properties Limited, Maj.-Gen. Umar Mohammed, was sentenced by a Nigerian Army Special Court-martial in Abuja on Tuesday, October 10. He was convicted on 14 out of 18 charges, including forgery, misappropriation of funds, and conspiracy related to stealing $2,178,900 and N1.65 billion belonging to the Nigerian Army Property Limited (NAPL).

Initially, Mohammed had pleaded not guilty to all the charges. However, during the resumed sitting on Tuesday where the judgment was delivered, the eight-man panel led by Maj.-Gen. James Myam found him guilty on multiple counts.

The charges and corresponding sentences are as follows:

1. Count 1: Stealing – 5 years imprisonment, with an order to return $1,045,400.000 to NA.
2. Count 2: Stealing – 5 years imprisonment, $480,000 to NA.
3. Count 3: Stealing – 5 years imprisonment, $85,400 to NA.
4. Count 4: Stealing – 5 years imprisonment, $35,300 to NA Properties.
5. Count 5: Stealing – 5 years imprisonment, $55,500 to NA Pr.
6. Count 6: Stealing – 5 years imprisonment, $46,500 to NA.
7. Count 7: Criminal conspiracy to commit forgery (Not Guilty) – Discharged and acquitted.
8. Count 8: Forgery – Guilty, sentenced to 7 years imprisonment.
9. Count 9: Offence of theft – Guilty, sentenced to 5 years imprisonment, with an order to return $430,800 to NAPL.
10. Count 10: Conspiracy to forge document (Not Guilty) – Discharged and acquitted.
11. Count 11: Forgery (Not Guilty) – Discharged and acquitted.
12. Count 12: Conduct prejudicial to discipline – Guilty, sentenced to 2 years imprisonment.
13. Count 13: Theft – Guilty, sentenced to 5 years imprisonment, ordered to pay ₦74,000,000.
14. Count 14: Criminal misappropriation – Guilty, sentenced to 2 years imprisonment, ordered to pay ₦590,000,000 to NCC NAPIl.
15. Count 15: Criminal misappropriation – Guilty, sentenced to 2 years imprisonment, ordered to pay ₦255,000,000 to NCC NAPIL.
16. Count 16: Criminal misappropriation – Guilty, sentenced to 2 years imprisonment, ordered to pay ₦559,172,000 to NCC.
17. Count 17: Criminal misappropriation – Not guilty.
18. Count 18: Criminal misappropriation – Guilty, sentenced to 2 years imprisonment, ordered to pay ₦172,000,000 to FCC NAPL.

The panel stated that the sentences would run concurrently and directed that he should refund the funds into the account of NAPL. However, these sentences are subject to the confirmation of the “confirming authority.” Before the sentence, Mohammed had been detained in a Military facility at Mogadishu cantonment, Abuja, where he spent years. The Defense Counsel, Lekan Ojo (SAN), requested the convicted senior officer to be moved to Kuje Correctional Facility, but the request was denied by the court.