Former Major General Umaru Mallam Mohammed has approached the Supreme Court to challenge aspects of the judgment delivered by the Court of Appeal on February 9, 2026, following a partial success in his appeal against a conviction by a Special Court Martial.
The retired senior officer had earlier appealed the ruling of the Special Court Martial convened by the Army Headquarters Garrison (AHQ Gar), which found him guilty and sentenced him over allegations of misappropriating funds belonging to Nigerian Army Properties Limited (NAPL), a private limited liability company promoted by the Nigerian Army.
Mohammed, who served as Managing Director of the company and was also one of its shareholders, maintained that all financial decisions and expenditures were carried out under the directives of the then Chief of Army Staff, who also served as the company’s Chairman.
Speaking on the circumstances surrounding the trial, Mohammed compared his situation to the famous remark attributed to former Minister of Transport, Alhaji Umaru Dikko, following the 1983 military coup. He said the situation was akin to “holding the conductor responsible for a bus accident while the driver goes free,” suggesting that he was being punished for actions taken under superior instructions.
The Special Court Martial convicted Mohammed while, according to him, the superior officer who allegedly issued the directives was not prosecuted. He described the proceedings as being marked by intrigue and a witch-hunt, expressing confidence that the Supreme Court would ultimately clear his name.
Another issue raising concern in the case, according to sources close to the matter, is the Nigerian Army’s attempt to enforce orders relating to accounts linked to Mohammed’s Bank Verification Number (BVN), despite the absence of any consequential restitution orders from the court martial.
Available information indicates that the retired officer has filed a motion seeking leave to appeal at the Supreme Court, referenced CA/ABJ/PRE/ROA/CR/174MI/2026, urging the apex court to set aside parts of the Court of Appeal judgment and nullify the decision of the Special Court Martial.
However, Mohammed’s legal team declined to comment on the development, stating that the matter is sub judice and currently before a court of competent jurisdiction.
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