The court of appeal has affirmed the conviction and sentencing of Umar Mohammed, ex-group managing director of Nigerian army properties limited, for misappropriation of over N4 billion company fund.
In a certified true copy of the judgment, the appellate court dismissed Mohammed’s appeal challenging the jurisdiction of the special court martial and the validity of its earlier verdict.
The former senior officer had been tried and convicted by a special court martial of the Nigerian army on October 10, 2023, for offences bordering on stealing and criminal misappropriation of funds belonging to NAPL.
Following his conviction, Mohammed was dismissed from the army, sentenced to imprisonment and ordered to refund $2,099,700 and N1.65 billion to the company.
Dissatisfied with the ruling, the former general approached the appellate court on February 12, 2025, in suit number CA/ABJ/CR/383/2025, arguing that the conviction was not supported by sufficient and credible evidence.
However, a three-member panel of justices led by Abba Mohammed, alongside Okon Abang and Eberechi Nyesom-Wike, dismissed the appeal, ruling that the evidence presented during the court martial clearly established the offences.
According to the judgment, the court held that the special court martial was right to reject Mohammed’s defence, describing it as inconsistent and unreliable.
The justices noted contradictions in the former general’s testimony, particularly his claim that NAPL never operated berthing services, which was contradicted by documentary records authored by him indicating otherwise.
The court held that the inconsistencies undermined his credibility and affirmed the conviction and sentence imposed by the special court martial on all counts except those relating to forgery.
Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had earlier secured the final forfeiture of shares worth over N5 billion linked to Mohammed and Kayode Filani, a businessman.
In August 2025, Dehinde Dipeolu of the federal high court of Nigeria sitting in Lagos ordered the final forfeiture of 245,568,137 shares traced to the duo, following an application by the EFCC.
Counsel to the commission, Hanatu Kofanaisa, told the court that the shares were acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities carried out during Mohammed’s tenure at NAPL.
In granting the application, Justice Dipeolu ruled that the anti-graft agency had satisfied all legal requirements for the forfeiture, ordering that the shares be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government in favour of the Nigerian army properties limited.