ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Major General Umaru Mallam Mohammed, who faced 18 charges brought by the Nigerian Army, found himself convicted on 14 counts.
According to an online news medium, it has been gathered that the Special Court Martial, led by President Major General James Myam, has imposed a 7-year prison sentence on the once-prominent officer.
Furthermore, substantial restitution was ordered, requiring him to return $2,053,200 US dollars and an astounding N1,690,000,000 (N1 billion, 690 million) to the Nigerian Army.
The extensive list of charges resulted in a cumulative prison sentence of 49 years. However, the court declared that these sentences would run concurrently, reducing the actual incarceration period to 7 years.
The convictions and respective sentences are as follows: Count 1: Stealing (Armed Forces Act, section 323, sub-section 7). Guilty, sentenced to 5 years imprisonment, and ordered to repay $1,045,400 to the Nigerian Army Properties Limited.
Count 2: Stealing. Guilty, sentenced to 5 years imprisonment, and ordered to repay $400,800 to the Nigerian Army Properties Limited.
Count 3: Stealing. Guilty, sentenced to 5 years imprisonment, and ordered to repay $85,400 to the Nigerian Army Properties Limited.
Count 4: Stealing. Guilty, sentenced to 5 years imprisonment, and ordered to repay $35,300 to the Nigerian Army Properties Limited.
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Count 5: Stealing (Criminal Code Act, section 383, sub-section 1)
Guilty, sentenced to 5 years imprisonment, and ordered to repay $55,500 to Nigerian Army Properties Limited.
Count 6: Stealing (Criminal Code, section 310). Guilty, sentenced to 5 years imprisonment, and ordered to repay $46,500 to the Nigerian Army Properties Limited.
Count 7: Conspiracy to Commit Forgery, but was acquitted.
Count 8: Forgery (Armed Forces Act, section 362). Guilty, sentenced to 7 years imprisonment.
Count 9: Forgery. Guilty, sentenced to 5 years imprisonment, and ordered to repay $430,800 to the Nigerian Army Properties Ltd.
Count 10: Conspiracy to Forgery of Document. But was acquitted.
Count 11: Forgery and was acquitted.
Count 12: Conduct Prejudice to Service Discipline, also acquitted.
Count 13: Theft. Guilty, sentenced to 5 years imprisonment, and ordered to repay N74 million to the Nigerian Army Properties Limited.
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Count 14: Criminal Misappropriation. Guilty, sentenced to 2 years imprisonment, and ordered to repay N590 million to the FCC NAM Limited.
Count 16: Criminal Misappropriation. Guilty, sentenced to 2 years imprisonment, and ordered to repay N255 million to the Nigerian Army Properties Limited. Additionally, he must return another N550 million to FCC Nigerian Army Properties Ltd under the same Count 16.
Count 18: Criminal Misappropriation (Laws of Northern Nigeria, section 308). Guilty, sentenced to 2 years imprisonment, and ordered to repay N172 million to the Nigerian Army Properties Limited.
According to Vanguard, the President of the Special Court Martial, Major General James Myam, clarified that the sentences are pending confirmation by the Army Council, the appropriate confirming authority.
Major General Umaru Mallam Mohammed, who previously held the position of Executive Vice Chairman and GMD of the Nigerian Army Properties Limited, had pleaded not guilty to the charges, presenting two witnesses in his defence. The prosecution, on the other hand, called upon 24 witnesses during the trial.
The charges were brought under various legal provisions, including section 383(1) of the Criminal Code Act Cap C38, punishable under section 390(7) of the Act, and section 114 of the Armed Forces Act Cap A20 2004, among others.
Following the sentencing, the court was adjourned indefinitely.