A General Court-Martial (GCM) sitting in Enugu has sentenced a Nigerian soldier, Private Adamu Mohammed, to death by hanging for the murder of his girlfriend, Hauwa Ali.
Delivering the judgment, the president of the 11-member panel, Brigadier General Sadisu Buhari, stated that the soldier was found guilty of murder under Section 106(a) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap A20, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“After a careful and detailed consideration of the accused’s record, his plea for mitigation, and in the overriding interest of justice for the deceased, this court hereby sentences Private Adamu Mohammed to death by hanging,” General Buhari declared.
The murder case, which has drawn wide attention, involved Mohammed allegedly taking the life of his partner in what was described as a clear violation of both military and civil codes of conduct.
In a separate ruling, the GCM also sentenced another soldier, Private Abubakar Yusuf, to 10 years in prison for robbery. Yusuf was found guilty of robbing a shopping mall in Enugu — an offence punishable under Section 107(1)(b) of the Armed Forces Act.
While delivering that verdict, Buhari acknowledged the panel’s inability to reach the unanimous decision required to impose the maximum punishment under Section 107(2), but applied the law under Section 140(3) to sentence the soldier to a decade behind bars.
“The court considered the plea for leniency by the accused and his counsel, but the judgment reflects the Nigerian Army’s zero tolerance for criminal conduct,” he said.
In a statement signed by Jonah Unuakhalu, Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 82 Division, the Nigerian Army assured the public that the GCM’s decisions demonstrate its unwavering commitment to discipline, justice, and professional integrity.
He further emphasized that both convictions and sentences are subject to confirmation by the appropriate military authority before enforcement.
The Nigerian Army reiterated that while it remains a symbol of national security and strength, it does not shield its personnel from justice when they violate the law.
