Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Former Group Managing Director and Executive Vice Chairman of Nigerian Army Properties Limited, Major General Umar Mohammed, has been court martialed for allegedly stealing a whopping $1.476 million US dollars belonging to the Nigerian Army.
A Special Court Martial set up by the Nigerian Army found him guilty of 14 of 18-count charges, including stealing and other sundry offences, which are all contrary to service laws.
The Special Court Martial was chaired by Major General Kames Myam as President, with seven other Major Generals as members and a Brigadier General as Judge Advocate.
It is expected to read out its sentences for the accused by Tuesday next week.
Meanwhile, some of the charges brought against the General border on stealing, forgery, conspiracy, theft, unauthorised diversion of Army property, among others.
He was alleged to have collected the sum of $1.045,400 paid by shipping companies for the use of Nigerian Army Jetty located at no 6 Marina, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The Court Martial found him guilty of the allegation.
Gen. 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, Lagos.
He was equally 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 that he sold Army property worth N200million in Lagos as well as stole 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.
Gen. Mohammed was also not found guilty of charges of forging a Deed of Agreement document pursuant to confiscating another Army property in Lagos.
The accused was brought into the court in a wheelchair but the President of the court said all necessary medical checks were carried out on him and all proved that he was fit to stand trial.
