Appeal Court Upholds Conviction Of Ex-MD Of Army Properties Coy

The Court of Appeal has affirmed the 45-year imprisonment imposed on a former managing director of Nigerian Army Properties Ltd, Major General Umar Mohammed, for forgery, stealing and theft of millions of US dollars belonging to the Nigerian Army.

The appellate court upheld the conviction by an 8-man Special Court Martial, handed down on October 10, 2023, and also affirmed the special court’s jurisdiction to hear and determine the matter.

Mohammed, who was indicted by a military police investigation and recommended him for trial, was found guilty of 14 of the 18 charges preferred against him.

A Special Court Martial presided over by President James Myam had ordered the dismissal of the convict from the Nigerian Army, sentenced him to prison and ordered him to refund $2,099,700 and N1.65 billion to NAPL.

Myam had indicated that the sentencing would run concurrently and is subject to confirmation by the confirming authority.

But dissatisfied with the verdict, the convict had challenged the decision on February 12, 2025, claiming insufficient evidence.

However, a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal made up of Justices Abba Mohammed, Okon Abang, and Eberechi Nyesom-Wike concluded that the evidence decisively proved the offences.

The appellate court also pointed out inconsistencies in Mohammed’s testimony, especially his claim that NAPL never operated berthing services, which conflicted with his own records.

Therefore, the appeal was dismissed, and the conviction affirmed, except for counts related to forgery.

In August 2025, Justice Dipeolu also ordered the forfeiture of over N5 billion worth of shares linked to Mohammed, purchased with proceeds of unlawful activities during his tenure.

The EFCC presented evidence that Mohammed was convicted on 14 of 18 counts, meeting all legal requirements for final forfeiture, which the court approved.

The shares are now permanently forfeited to the Federal Government, benefiting the Nigerian Army Properties Limited.