A General Court Martial (GCM) sitting at the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army in Enugu has handed down a death sentence to Private Adamu Mohammed for the murder of his girlfriend, Miss Hauwa Ali, while another soldier, Private Abubakar Yusuf, was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for robbery.
The verdict was delivered on Tuesday following the trial of the two soldiers, who faced charges of murder and armed robbery, respectively. The court, composed of 11 members and presided over by Brigadier General Sadisu Buhari, found Private Mohammed guilty under Section 106 (a) of the Armed Forces Act, which prescribes capital punishment for murder.
In his ruling, Brigadier General Buhari stated that the decision to impose the death penalty was reached after a thorough review of the evidence, the accused’s service record, and the plea for leniency made by his legal counsel. However, he emphasized that the severity of the crime—the killing of an innocent civilian—demanded the full weight of the law.
“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,” Buhari declared.
In a related case, Private Abubakar Yusuf was convicted of robbing a mall within Enugu and received a 10-year jail term. The court noted that the sentences were intended to serve as a deterrent to other military personnel and to uphold discipline within the armed forces.
The GCM was inaugurated on February 18, 2025, by the General Officer Commanding the 82 Division, Major General Oluyemi Olatoye, to handle serious offences committed by personnel that could not be resolved through summary procedures.
The Nigerian Army has reiterated its commitment to maintaining discipline and ensuring that personnel adhere to both military and civil laws. This ruling comes amid ongoing efforts by the military high command to curb misconduct and criminal behavior among its ranks.
The convicted soldiers have the right to appeal the verdicts within the military justice system. Meanwhile, human rights groups are expected to scrutinize the death penalty sentence, given ongoing debates about capital punishment in Nigeria.
The case has drawn public attention, with many Nigerians expressing mixed reactions—some applauding the military for enforcing strict discipline, while others question whether the punishment fits the crime. The Nigerian Army, however, maintains that the verdicts reinforce its zero-tolerance policy for criminal acts by its personnel.
