By Kamil Opeyemi
The former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian Army Properties Limited (NAPL), Major General Umar Mohammed, has been sentenced to seven years imprisonment by a special court-martial set up by the Nigerian Army to try him on corruption charges, forgery, and abuse of office amongst several others.
Major General Mohammed was found guilty on 14 out of the 18 count charges while he was discharged and acquitted on the remaining four count charges.
Tuesday’s sentence is subject to the approval of the Nigerian Army Council.
The court-martial trials are lawfully provided in the Armed Forces and act as one of the disciplinary tools in the armed forces.
The panel explained that the prosecution counsels called 24 witnesses, while the defendant called two witnesses.
The panel judgement ordered that the convicted senior officer be jailed for seven years since some of the offences carry two years, five years, and seven years.
While explaining that the sentences would run concurrently, the court also directed that he should refund some funds into the account of NAPL.