By Gom Mirian, Abuja

The Nigerian Army, yesterday said the former Group Managing Director (GMD), Nigeria Army Property Limited (NAPL) was being Court Martial following his indictment over sharp practices while in office.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.

“The general is being tried having been indicted by a military police investigation and recommendation for trial.

“Therefore, the media report on the ongoing Court Martial process of the erstwhile Group Managing Director, Nigerian Army Properties Limited (NAPL), Maj.-Gen. UM Mohammed, is ill-conceived and campaign of calumny.

“Indeed, Maj.-Gen. Muhammed is facing army court-martial over alleged offences of theft of various sums of money belonging to NAPL and forgery,” he said.

According to him, “it is expedient to clear the air on the despicably false report and calculated attempt to cast aspersion on the ongoing court martial”.

He said the trial had already progressed to an advanced stage, adding that the prosecution had put forward the evidence against the general and closed its case.

Nwachukwu disclosed that the accused has opened his defence and testifying as First Defence Witness (DW1).

“For the avoidance of doubts, without being sub-judicial, the former GMD NAPL is facing trial in relation to alleged offences of theft of various sums of money belonging to NAPL and forgery.

“These are all acts declared as offences punishable under the provisions of various extant penal laws in Nigeria.

“To set the records straight, upon investigation and indictment of the accused senior officer by military police investigations, the Army Headquarters convened a Special Court Martial.

“This is to try the senior officer as a procedure to legally recover the sums of money he allegedly fraudulently acquired from the coffers of NAPL during his tenure as GMD.

“The details of the outcome of the court martial will be provided at the end of the court martial proceedings.

“It is instructive to point out, that trials are lawfully provided in the Armed Forces Act (AFA) as one of the disciplinary tools in the armed forces,” he said.

Nwachukwu said the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court had in multiple instances validated the procedures, findings, and sentences of court-martial.

He added that the court martials like all other criminal trials were held in the open.

According to him, the trial of Maj.-Gen. Mohammed is taking place at the Army Headquarters Command Officers’ Mess, Asokoro Abuja and not shrouded in secrecy as being insinuated.

“The trial has been opened and the Defence has presented adequate representation in court.

“The accused senior officer’s family members, friends, and associates attend and observe the court proceedings till date, without hindrance.

“It is factual that Maj.-Gen. Mohammed ought to have proceeded on retirement, however, provisions of the Armed Forces Act (specifically Section 169) permits the retention in service of such a personnel, who has pending disciplinary case(s) to allow extant legal processes.

“Furthermore, it is also a fact that members of the Special Court Martial trying Maj.-Gen. Mohammed are all junior to him.

“This is permissible in special circumstances, as the Armed Forces Act provides for this contingency in Section 133(7), where the Convening Officer is required to obtain the consent of an appropriate superior to appoint any such officers as members of the court.

“The requisite consent was obtained before convening the Special Court Martial trying the accused senior officer,” he added.

The Army spokesman said that the general was being defended by a legal team comprising two Senior Advocates and six lawyers, including a retired military officer.

Immigration Dismisses Eight Officers, Investigates 80 over Extortion

The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) said about 80 officers have gone on trial over the collection of illegal fees for the issuance and renewal of passports.

Speaking yesterday, Tony Akuneme, NIS spokesperson, said eight officers have been dismissed in connection to the offence in the last year.

He said the disciplinary measures are part of the three-point reform agenda of Isah Jere, NIS comptroller general (CG).

Akuneme said the CG’s three-point agenda includes passport issuance reform, tightening border security and improving the welfare of NIS officers.

The NIS spokesman said the CG has vowed to discipline officers who try to sabotage the reform process.

“We have continued to punish NIS officers and men who try to assist people for a fee. You can assist people genuinely but not extorting from them,” he said.

“We are committed to curbing corruption and other illicit acts in the service. You will appreciate the fact that if nothing else, the level of awareness has increased in the last few months.

“Don’t patronise agents, fill your forms yourself. We have officers watching and these agents know they are being watched. When they take money from you, tell us. If we don’t take action, tell the world.”

He said employing the services of third-party agents in securing passports hinders the reform process.

“We have tried as much as possible to eliminate third parties so that if you really want, you can process the application of your passport from the comfort of your room on your laptop, android phones and you can pay online,” Akuneme said.

“You don’t really need anybody whether immigration officers or agents which we usually call louts. They have upgraded and become agents. They are still third parties.

“The problem we have is the use of third parties because no matter how much reform you put in, you will always see a learned and civilised person using a third party to process his or her application.

“And one thing they don’t understand is that third parties don’t have an idea of the information entered into your application. This can result in somebody having issues with his/her National Identification Number (NIN).”