The Nigerian Army Special Court Martial (SCM) established in Borno has sentenced three soldiers to life imprisonment for arms racketeering and other unlawful acts in the theatre of operation against terror activities.
President of the special court, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Abdullahi, while pronouncing the verdict at the Headquarters of Operation Hadin Kai, venue of the sitting, sentenced Sgt. Raphael Ameh, Sgt. Ejiga Musa, and LCpl Patrick Ocheje, to life imprisonment ,while Cpl Omitoye Rufus, was jailed for 15 years.
The court ruled that the personnel,who had pleaded guilty to the charges brought against them, committed unlawful dealing in ammunition, offence in relation to Service Property as well as aiding the enemy which are all punishable under the relevant sections of the Armed Forces Act (AFA) Law of Federation of Nigeria (LFN) CAP A20 2004 and other extant laws.
“In the case of Sgt. Ameh Raphael, a documentary evidence admitted before the Court revealed that as an Armourer with 7 Division Garrison, the SNCO conspired with late LCpl Ogbogo Isaac, to pilfer ammunition from the Division arms store. It was further revealed that he collaborated with one Inspector Francis Ajayi and Francis Manasseh, all of 30 Police Mobile Force (PMF) to conceal arms in bags of beans and smuggled them to Enugu and Ebonyi states for use by criminals. It was also revealed that Ameh received the proceeds of this illicit trade through over 100 bank transactions, between July 2022 and June 2024,” a statement by the spokesman of the 7 Division of the Nigeria Army, Lt Col Haruna Sani explained.
He said Ejiga Musa, while serving as 195 Battalion main armourer stole and collaborated with one LCpl Patrick Ochoje and also Inspector Francis Manasseh of 30 PMF to sell AK 47 riffle and large quantity of ammunition.
“Records showed that he collected the sum of ₦ 500,00. Ejiga met his waterloo when he attempted to sell ammunition to Inspector Francis Ajayi also of 30 PMF,” he disclosed.
The Special Court Martial was conveyed by the acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division and Sector 1 Operation Hadin Kai Commander, Brig. Gen. Ugochukwu Unachukwu, following reports and investigation over arms racketeering aiding and abetting enemy.
