A soldier of the Nigerian Army, Private Adamu Mohammed, has been sentenced to death by hanging for the murder of his girlfriend, Miss Hauwa Ali. The sentence was passed by a General Court Martial (GCM) sitting at the Headquarters of the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu.
The GCM also convicted another soldier, Private Abubakar Yusuf, sentencing him to 10 years imprisonment for robbery, after he was found guilty of attacking a mall within Enugu.
These verdicts came after extensive trials involving charges of murder and robbery against the two soldiers. The trials were conducted in line with the provisions of the Armed Forces Act, Cap A20, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, which prescribes penalties for such offences.
The court martial was composed of 11 members and was inaugurated on February 18, 2025, by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division, Major General Oluyemi Olatoye. The objective was to try erring military personnel whose cases required full court martial procedures, beyond what could be handled summarily by their commanding officers.
According to a statement issued by Lieutenant Colonel Jonah Unuakhalu, Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations of the 82 Division, the judgment was delivered by the President of the Court Martial, Brigadier General Sadisu Buhari, after the panel thoroughly reviewed the facts presented before it.
In the case of Private Adamu Mohammed (21NA/80/6365), the GCM found him guilty of murder under Section 106(a) of the Armed Forces Act. The court noted that the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused was responsible for the death of his girlfriend, Miss Hauwa Ali.
Delivering the judgment, Brigadier General Sadisu Buhari explained that the decision was reached unanimously by the panel after considering all legal arguments, the personal service record of the accused, and the plea for leniency presented by his defence counsel.
“Given the facts presented, the court finds the accused soldier guilty of the charge of murder. In the interest of justice, societal decorum, and respect for the sanctity of life, the court hereby sentences Private Adamu Mohammed to death by hanging,” the GCM President ruled.
In a separate case, the GCM also found Private Abubakar Yusuf (23NA/85/12116) guilty of robbery, an offence punishable under Section 107(1)(b) of the Armed Forces Act. He was accused of participating in a robbery operation that targeted a commercial mall in Enugu.
While the court acknowledged the plea in mitigation by Yusuf and his counsel, it maintained that the offence was severe and tarnished the reputation of the Nigerian Army. However, due to the inability of the panel to reach the unanimous decision required to impose the maximum sentence under Section 107(2) of the Act, the GCM instead invoked Section 140(3) and imposed a 10-year prison sentence.
“In consideration of all factors and in accordance with the Armed Forces Act, the court hereby sentences the accused to 10 years imprisonment,” Brig. Gen. Buhari announced.
The President of the GCM emphasized that the judgments delivered are still subject to confirmation by the appropriate military authority, which has the final say on their enforcement.
In the wake of the court’s decision, the Nigerian Army reiterated its dedication to the highest standards of discipline, ethics, and justice. It assured the general public that while the misconduct of a few personnel does not reflect the values of the institution, the army remains committed to taking swift and decisive action to uphold accountability within its ranks.
“The Nigerian Army is resolute in ensuring that justice prevails. These outcomes send a strong message that criminal behavior will not be tolerated under any guise,” the statement added.
The army further stated that maintaining public confidence and professional integrity remains at the core of its mission, and that internal disciplinary mechanisms such as court martial proceedings are critical to preserving order and justice within the force.
