Military Court Sentences four Soldiers to life in jail for arms trafficking, aiding enemy

Military Court Sentences four Soldiers to life in jail for arms trafficking, aiding enemy

A Special Court Martial (SCM) convened by Brigadier General Ugochukwu Unachukwu, the Acting General Officer Commanding 7 Division of the Nigerian Army and Sector 1 of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), has convicted four military personnel involved in arms and ammunition racketeering, as well as aiding and abetting the enemy.

Among the convicted were two Senior Non-commissioned Officers (SNCOs) and two Non-commissioned Officers (NCOs).

The court, which convened at the Headquarters Theatre Command Officers’ Mess in Maiduguri, delivered harsh sentences.

Brigadier General Mohammed Abdullahi, the President of the Court Martial, sentenced Sergeant Raphael Ameh, Sergeant Ejiga Musa, and Lance Corporal Patrick Ocheje to life imprisonment, while Corporal Omitoye Rufus received a 15-year prison sentence.

All four personnel pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including theft, illegal trafficking of ammunition, violations involving service property, and aiding the enemy. These offenses are punishable under the Armed Forces Act (AFA), Law of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) CAP A20, 2004, and other applicable legal provisions.

Sergeant Raphael Ameh, who worked as an Armourer at the 7 Division Garrison, was implicated in a conspiracy to steal ammunition from the division’s arms store.

He colluded with the late Lance Corporal Ogbogo Isaac to pilfer military-grade weapons and ammunition. Additionally, evidence revealed that Ameh worked with Inspector Francis Ajayi and Inspector Francis Manasseh, both members of the 30 Police Mobile Force (PMF), to smuggle arms concealed in bags of beans.

These weapons were transported to Enugu and Ebonyi states, where they were intended for use by criminal elements.

Furthermore, it was uncovered that Sergeant Ameh laundered the proceeds from these illegal activities through over 100 bank transactions spanning from July 2022 to June 2024.

Documentary evidence presented during the trial revealed that Ameh collaborated with Inspector Francis Ajayi and Inspector Francis Manasseh, both of the 30 Police Mobile Force (PMF), to conceal arms in bags of beans and smuggle them to Enugu and Ebonyi states for criminal use.

Additionally, Sergeant Ameh was found to have received proceeds from these illicit activities, with over 100 bank transactions recorded between July 2022 and June 2024.

Sergeant Ejiga Musa, while serving as the main armourer at the 195 Battalion, was also involved in the theft and sale of military arms and ammunition. He collaborated with Lance Corporal Patrick Ocheje and Inspector Francis Manasseh of the 30 PMF to sell an AK-47 rifle and a large quantity of ammunition, for which he received over ₦500,000. His illegal dealings came to an end when he attempted to sell ammunition to Inspector Francis Ajayi, also of the 30 PMF.

Corporal Omitoye Rufus was convicted for selling 40 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition to Inspector Enoch Nwokolobia. Meanwhile, Lance Corporal Patrick Ocheje, while deployed at the Forward Operating Base in Molai, was coerced by Inspector Manasseh to pilfer ammunition for sale to militias during communal conflicts. Investigations revealed that Lance Corporal Ocheje received 20 rounds of PKT ammunition from Sergeant Ejiga Musa for sale to terrorist groups, in coordination with Inspector Ajayi. Ocheje was also found guilty of stealing an AK-47 rifle belonging to one of his comrades.

The court emphasized that such illicit activities posed grave risks to military personnel, undermined ongoing operations, and threatened national security—actions that were clearly deemed as “Aiding the Enemy.” Brigadier General Abdullahi, President of the SCM, made a strong statement, asserting that “the activities of these bad eggs personnel are not only a violation of the law but a betrayal of the trust, discipline, and honor expected of troops in the theatre.”

He went on to underscore the Nigerian Army’s stance on misconduct: “The Nigerian Army (NA) maintains zero tolerance for gross misconduct, fraudulent practices, and unprofessional practices. Such acts erode discipline, undermine morale, and bring the service into disrepute.”

Brigadier General Abdullahi also reiterated the army’s commitment to accountability, stressing that investigations into alleged misconduct are thorough and that the army promotes a culture of professionalism through both rewards and punishments. This approach not only fosters discipline but also builds stronger relations with the public.

In conclusion, the President of the Court Martial reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s strict policy on arms trafficking, asserting that the service will have “zero tolerance for the selling of ammunition to adversaries or anybody in whatever guise or form.”