A Special Court-Martial sitting in Maiduguri has sentenced four soldiers to life imprisonment and other jail terms for arms and ammunition racketeering, aiding the enemy, and other grave offences that threaten national security.
The trial, convened by the Acting General Officer Commanding 7 Division of the Nigerian Army and Sector 1, Operation HADIN KAI, Brigadier General Ugochukwu Unachukwu, saw two senior non-commissioned officers and two non-commissioned officers convicted on multiple counts ranging from theft, unlawful dealing in ammunition, offences relating to service property, and aiding militias.
Delivering the verdict at the Headquarters Theatre Command Officers’ Mess on 18 September 2025, the Court-Martial President, Brigadier General Mohammed Abdullahi, announced that Sgt Rapheal Ameh, Sgt Ejiga Musa, and LCpl Patrick Ocheje were sentenced to life imprisonment, while Cpl Omitoye Rufus bagged 15 years.
Documentary evidence tendered during trial revealed shocking details of how Sgt Ameh, an armourer with 7 Division Garrison, conspired with late LCpl Ogbogo Isaac to steal ammunition from the armoury. He was found to have concealed arms in bags of beans and smuggled them to Enugu and Ebonyi States with the help of operatives from the 30 Police Mobile Force. Bank records showed over 100 illicit transactions linked to him between July 2022 and June 2024.
Similarly, Sgt Ejiga Musa, who once served as armourer at 195 Battalion, was found guilty of selling AK-47 rifles and large quantities of ammunition in collaboration with LCpl Ocheje and a police inspector. Records showed he collected over ₦500,000 from the illegal trade before being exposed while attempting to sell to an undercover operative.
Cpl Omitoye Rufus was convicted for selling 40 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition to a police officer, while LCpl Ocheje was found guilty of pilfering ammunition for militias during communal clashes and selling weapons, including an AK-47 rifle belonging to a fellow soldier, to criminal networks.
The court described their actions as a direct betrayal of military trust and a grave endangerment to troops in the North-East theatre of operations. Brigadier General Abdullahi stressed that such misconduct not only undermines morale and discipline but also aids terrorist groups and criminals against the Nigerian state.
In a statement issued by Lieutenant Colonel Haruna Mohammed Sani, Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 7 Division, the Nigerian Army reiterated its zero tolerance for gross misconduct, stressing that accountability and professionalism remain central to its operations.
“The activities of these bad eggs are a betrayal of trust, discipline and honour expected of troops. The Army will not condone acts that erode discipline or put national security at risk,” Brigadier General Abdullahi declared.
The convictions underscore the Army’s resolve to purge itself of unprofessional conduct while fostering public confidence in its ongoing fight against insurgency and crime.
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