….Selling Army Properties worth N74million.
From Molly Kilete, Abuja
The Special Court Martial set up by the Nigerian Army to try one of its officers, Major General Umar Muazu Mohammed has found him guilty of 14 of 18 count charges against him which are all contrary to service laws.
Mohammed who was a one time Group Managing Director and Executive Vice Chairman of Nigerian Army Properties Limited, was charged for stealing, forgery, conspiracy, Theft, and Unauthorized diversion of Army property among others and they are all subject to service discipline.
Among the charges before the Special Court Martial which held at the Army Headquarters Command officers mess, was the collection of a whooping $1.045,400 paid by shipping companies for the use of Nigerian Army Jetty located at no 6 Marina, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Mohammed was also found guilty of a theft of $430.800 being monies paid into Nigerian Army Domiciliary account at Unity Bank, Abuja for use of Nigerian Army Jetty, Marina, VI, Lagos
Furthermore, Major Gen Mohammed was found guilty of withdrawing and confiscating the sum of N74million out of N75million paid for a property belonging to the Nigerian Army at Ikoyi, Lagos.
He was however found not guilty on allegations of selling Army property worth N200million in Lagos and the stealing of the sum of another N750million out of the sum of N2.5billion secured from banks as well as contribution from subscribers for a Army housing estate in Asokoro, Abuja
He was also not found guilty of charges of forging a Deed of Agreement document pursuant to confiscating another Army property in Lagos.
The Special Court Martial which have Major General Kames Myam as President, has seven (7) other Major Generals as members and a Brigadier General as Judge Advocate and it is expected to read out its sentences for the accused by Tuesday next week.
However, it was observed that Major General UM Mohammed was brought into the court in a wheel chair even though the President of the court, Major Gen Myan said all necessary medical checks were carried out on the accused and showed that he was fit to stand for trial.
Lead counsel for the prosecution was Col BA Oguntayo (Rtd) while Lead counsel for the Defence was Olalekan Ojo, SAN.
