Umar Mohammed: Major General jailed for stealing NAPL funds

A Nigerian Army Special Court-martial, located in Abuja, rendered a verdict on Tuesday, finding Maj.-Gen. Umar Mohammed, a former Group Managing Director of Nigerian Army Properties Limited, guilty of embezzling funds belonging to the organization.

The charges included forgery, funds misappropriation, and conspiracy among others, totaling 18 counts.

Initially pleading not guilty to all charges, Mohammed faced the trial, with the eight-man panel, led by Maj.-Gen. James Myam, announcing the conviction of the senior military officer on 14 out of the 18 charges. The charges were framed under relevant sections of the Criminal Code Act and the Armed Forces Act.

During the trial, the prosecution presented 24 witnesses, while the defendant called upon two witnesses for his defense. The court, in its judgment, sentenced Mohammed to varying jail terms of 5, 7, and 2 years for different offenses, with some sentences running concurrently.

The court ordered the convicted officer to refund misappropriated funds to the account of Nigerian Army Properties Limited. The sentences are subject to confirmation by the appropriate authority.

Mohammed had been in detention for over two years prior to his sentencing, held at the Nigerian Army detention facility in Mogadishu cantonment, Abuja.