Court Martial: Soldier to die for killing girlfriend
A General Court Martial sitting at the Headquarters, 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Enugu has sentenced a soldier, Private Adamu Mohammed to death by hanging for killing his girlfriend.
Another soldier, Private Abubakar Yusuf is to serve 10 years in prison for robbery.
The 11-member court was inaugurated by the General Officer Commanding, 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Oluyemi Olatoye, on February 18, 2025.
At its sitting, the President of the GCM, Brigadier General Sadisu Buhari, delivered the judgment on the first accused, Private Adamu Mohammed.
He was found guilty of murdering his girlfriend, Miss Hauwa Ali, an offence punishable under Section 106 (a) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap A20 LFN 2004.
In a unanimous judgement, the member of the panel said they carefully reviewed the facts before them, the career and service record of the soldier, and the compassionate plea for mitigation presented by the accused and his counsel.
However, the President of the court said that in the interest of societal decorum and justice for the deceased, the law had to be applied to its fullest.
“Given this, the GCM has determined that the accused soldier, 21NA/80/6365 Private Adamu Mohammed, is hereby sentenced to death by hanging for the charge of murder,” the court ruled.
Relatedly, the court sentenced Yusuf to 10 years imprisonment for robbery at a mall in Enugu, an offence punishable under Section 107(1)(b) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap A20 LFN 2004.
The president, however, said due to the court’s inability to reach a unanimous decision, it could not impose the maximum mandatory punishment prescribed under Section 107(2) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap A20 LFN 2004.
He said relying on the provisions of Section 140 (3) of the Armed Forces Act, the soldier will serve 10 years in prison.
Buhari said that the decision of the court is subject to ratification by the confirming authorities.
