Army sentences soldier to death for killing girlfriend
Story by Hamzat IBRAHIM
A General Court Martial (GCM) at the 82 Division Headquarters, Nigerian Army, Enugu has sentenced two soldiers for serious crimes.
The soldiers, Private Adamu Mohammed received the death penalty and Private Abubakar Yusuf was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for murder and robbery, respectively.
The GCM, which was convened on 18 February 2025, by Major-General Oluyemi Olatoye, General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division, was tasked with trying personnel for offences requiring more than summary disposal.
Brigadier-General Sadisu Buhari, President of the GCM, delivered the verdict, finding Mohammed guilty of the murder of his girlfriend, Miss Hauwa Ali, under Section 106(a) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap A20 LFN 2004.
Buhari explained that the decision followed a comprehensive review of the case, including the soldier’s service record and a plea for leniency from Mohammed and his counsel.
“In the interest of societal decorum and justice for the deceased, the law had to be applied to its fullest,” Buhari said, confirming Mohammed’s death sentence by hanging.
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In a related case, Private Yusuf was convicted of robbery at a mall in Enugu. Yusuf, with service number 23NA/85/12116, was sentenced to 10 years in prison under Section 107(1)(b) of the Armed Forces Act.
Buhari explained that, despite considering the plea for mitigation, the court was unable to reach the unanimous decision needed for the maximum penalty, which led to the 10-year sentence under Section 140(3) of the Act.
Both sentences are subject to confirmation by the appropriate confirming authority.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army, through Lieutenant-Colonel Jonah Unuakhulu, Acting Deputy Director of 82 Division Army Public Relations, reaffirmed its commitment to upholding ethical standards and professionalism.
Unuakhulu stressed that the wrongful actions of a few individuals do not reflect the values of the Army and that measures are always taken to ensure accountability and discipline within its ranks.
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