Court Martial Sentences Soldier To Death For Killing His Girlfriend In Enugu

A military court in Enugu has sentenced a soldier, Private Adamu Mohammed, to death by hanging for murdering his girlfriend, Hauwa Ali.

The judgement was delivered on Monday, April 28, 2025, by the General Court Martial (GCM) sitting at the Headquarters, 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Enugu.

It was gathered that the crime happened on April 11, 2024, inside an army barracks in Enugu.

The victim’s body, dressed in a hijab, was found the next day near officers’ quarters by the daughter of an army lieutenant.

Another soldier, Private Abubakar Yusuf, was jailed for 10 years for robbery at a shopping mall in Enugu.

“The GCM, composed of 11 members, you’d recall was inaugurated by the General Officer Commanding, 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Oluyemi Olatoye, on February 18, 2025, to try erring personnel within the Division for various offences, which could not be disposed of summarily,” the statement read.

“The President of the GCM, Brigadier General Sadisu Buhari, while delivering the judgment on the first accused, Private Adamu Mohammed, stated that he was found guilty of the offence of the murder of his girlfriend, miss Hauwa Ali, an offence punishable under Section 106 (a) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap A20 LFN 2004. 

“The judgement, which was unanimous, he explained, was arrived at after careful review of the facts before the GCM, the career and service record of the soldier, and the compassionate plea for mitigation presented by the accused and his counsel. However, the President of the GCM noted, that in the interest of societal decorum and justice for the deceased, the law had to be applied to its fullest.

“Given this, the GCM has determined that the accused soldier, 21NA/80/6365 Private Adamu Mohammed, is hereby sentenced to d3ath by hanging for the charge of murder,” Brigadier General Sadisu said.

Abubakar Yusuf’s robbery sentence was reduced to 10 years because the court could not unanimously agree on a harsher punishment.p

The President of the GCM stated that the panel found Private Yusuf guilty of robbery, punishable under Section 107(1)(b) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap A20 LFN 2004.

Although the court attentively considered the plea in mitigation presented by the accused and his counsel for leniency, the law was applied to uphold societal decorum and protect the reputation of the army.

“However, due to the inability of the GCM to reach a unanimous decision required to impose the maximum mandatory punishment prescribed under Section 107(2) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap A20 LFN 2004, the GCM, relying on the provisions of Section 140 (3) of the Armed Forces Act, hereby sentences the accused soldier, 23NA/85/12116 Private Abubakar Yusuf, to 10 years imprisonment,” Brigadier General Sadisu Buhari announced.

The Nigerian Army stated that the rulings show its commitment to discipline and justice.

It added that misconduct by a few soldiers does not reflect the values of the military, and such actions will always be punished.

The sentences still need final approval from higher authorities before they take effect.

KanyiDaily recalls that the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, also sentenced Peter Nwachukwu, the husband of late gospel singer Osinachi, to death by hanging.