Ex-army general takes misappropriation case to Supreme Court after appeal loss
A former Major General, Umaru Mohammed, has taken his legal battle to the Supreme Court after losing his appeal against a conviction for misappropriation of funds. The Court of Appeal in Abuja upheld the verdict and sentence handed down by a Special Court Martial. Mohammed was previously dismissed from the Nigerian Army, sentenced to imprisonment, and ordered to refund large sums to Nigerian Army Properties Limited. He maintains that his trial was unfair and is seeking to overturn the judgments.
What happened
- Umaru Mohammed was convicted on October 10, 2023, by a Special Court Martial for stealing and misappropriating funds belonging to Nigerian Army Properties Limited.
- He was ordered to refund $2,099,700 and N1,650,172,000, dismissed from the Army, and sentenced to imprisonment.
- Mohammed appealed to the Court of Appeal on February 12, 2025, but the court dismissed his challenge, affirming the conviction and sentence on all counts except forgery.
- The appellate panel found the evidence against Mohammed sufficient and rejected his defence as inconsistent and unreliable.
- Mohammed has now filed an appeal at the Supreme Court, arguing that his trial was unfair and questioning the enforcement of certain orders by the Nigerian Army.
