Court of Appeal has affirmed the conviction and sentencing of former Group Managing Director of Nigerian Army Properties Limited (NAPL), Maj.-Gen. Umar Mohammed, for stealing and misappropriating company funds.
In a Certified True Copy (CTC) of its judgment, the appellate court dismissed Mohammed’s appeal in suit No. CA/ABJ/CR/383/2025, rejecting challenges to the Special Court Martial’s jurisdiction and verdict that convicted him on October 10, 2023.
The ex-officer, dismissed from the Nigerian Army, was jailed and ordered to refund $2,099,700 and N1.65 billion to NAPL after the martial court found him guilty on multiple counts of stealing and criminal misappropriation.
Mohammed had argued on February 12, 2025, that the conviction lacked credible evidence, but Justices Abba Mohammed, Okon Abang, and Eberechi Nyesom-Wike ruled otherwise, upholding the lower court’s findings.
The panel described Mohammed’s defence as inconsistent and unreliable, noting contradictions like his denial of NAPL’s berthing services despite his own documents proving otherwise, which shredded his credibility.
The court affirmed convictions on all counts except forgery, cementing the Special Court Martial’s October 2023 penalties.
In a related August 2025 ruling, Justice Dehinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court, Lagos, ordered final forfeiture of over N5 billion in shares linked to Mohammed and businessman Kayode Filani.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), via counsel Hanatu Kofanaisa, secured the order under Section 44(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution and Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud Act, 2006, after proving the 245,568,137 shares stemmed from Mohammed’s crimes.
No objections arose post-publication, leading Justice Dipeolu to permanently forfeit the assets to the Federal Government for NAPL’s benefit.
The rulings underscore renewed anti-corruption momentum in military-linked financial scandals.
