A Special Court Martial of the Nigerian Army sitting in Maiduguri, Borno State, has sentenced three soldiers to life imprisonment and another to 15 years in prison for their involvement in an illegal arms and ammunition syndicate that supplied weapons to criminals and militias.
The trial, presided over by Brigadier General Mohammed Abdullahi, president of the court-martial, took place at the Officers’ Mess, Theatre Command Headquarters, under the supervision of Brigadier General Ugochukwu Unachukwu, Acting General Officer Commanding 7 Division and Commander of Sector 1, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK).
Delivering judgment, Abdullahi sentenced Sergeant Raphael Ameh, Sergeant Ejiga Musa, and Lance Corporal Patrick Ocheje to life imprisonment. Corporal Omitoye Rufus received a 15-year sentence.Access Bank Night Staff Caught on CCTV Having S*x at UNILAG Branch
The convicted soldiers were found guilty of multiple offences, including theft, unlawful dealings in ammunition, and aiding the enemy — all punishable under the Armed Forces Act.
Investigations revealed that Ameh, an armourer at the 7 Division Garrison, conspired with a late colleague to steal ammunition from the division’s armoury. He reportedly concealed weapons in bags of beans with the help of police officers and smuggled them to Enugu and Ebonyi, where they were sold to criminals. Bank records linked him to over 100 suspicious transactions between July 2022 and June 2024.
Similarly, Musa, while serving as armourer of the 195 Battalion, collaborated with Ocheje and some police officers to sell an AK-47 rifle and large amounts of ammunition. Records showed he received over ₦500,000 from the illegal trade before he was arrested while attempting another sale.
Rufus was found guilty of selling 40 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition to a police officer, while Ocheje, deployed at the Molai Forward Operating Base, was convicted of diverting ammunition during communal clashes at the request of a police officer. He also stole an AK-47 rifle belonging to a colleague.VIDEO: Pastor’s Daughter’s Viral S*x Tape Leaves Internet in Shock, Watch!
The court ruled that their actions posed a direct threat to military operations and national security, amounting to aiding the enemy.
Condemning their conduct, Abdullahi described the soldiers as “bad eggs” who betrayed the trust, discipline, and honour expected of them in the fight against insurgency. He reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s zero-tolerance stance on the illegal sale of arms and ammunition in any form. Join our telegram channel for more updates
