Special Court Martial Jails Four Soldiers for Arms Racketeering and Aiding Enemy Forces
The Special Court Martial (SCM) convened by the Acting General Officer Commanding, 7 Division of the Nigerian Army and Commander, Sector 1, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), Brigadier General Ugochukwu Unachukwu, has convicted four non‑commissioned officers for offences bordering on arms and ammunition racketeering, as well as aiding and abetting the enemy.
Delivering judgment at the Headquarters Theatre Command Officers’ Mess in Maiduguri, the SCM President, Brigadier General Mohammed Abdullahi, announced that Sgt Rapheal Ameh, Sgt Ejiga Musa, and LCpl Patrick Ocheje were sentenced to life imprisonment, while Cpl Omitoye Rufus received a 15‑year prison term. All four pleaded guilty to multiple counts.
The charges against them included theft, unlawful dealing in ammunition, offences relating to service property, and aiding the enemy — all punishable under the Armed Forces Act (AFA), Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, CAP A20, 2004, and other applicable laws.
Evidence before the court showed that Sgt Rapheal Ameh, serving as an armourer with 7 Division Garrison, conspired with the late LCpl Ogbogo Isaac to remove ammunition from the Division’s armoury. He was found to have collaborated with Inspector Francis Ajayi and Francis Manasseh of the 30 Police Mobile Force (PMF) to conceal arms in bags of beans and transport them to Enugu and Ebonyi States for criminal use.
Financial records revealed that Sgt Ameh received proceeds from the illicit trade through over 100 bank transactions between July 2022 and June 2024.
Sgt Ejiga Musa, while serving as the main armourer of 195 Battalion, was found guilty of stealing and collaborating with LCpl Patrick Ocheje and Inspector Francis Manasseh to sell AK‑47 rifles and large quantities of ammunition. Records showed he collected over ₦500,000 from these transactions. His arrest came after an attempt to sell ammunition to Inspector Francis Ajayi of 30 PMF.
Cpl Omitoye Rufus was convicted for selling 40 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition to Inspector Enoch Nwokolobia. LCpl Patrick Ocheje, deployed at Forward Operating Base Molai, was persuaded by Inspector Francis Manasseh to divert ammunition for sale to militias during communal crises.
Investigations further revealed that LCpl Patrick received 20 rounds of PKT ammunition from Sgt Ejiga Musa for sale to terrorist groups, in collaboration with Inspector Francis Ajayi. He was also found guilty of stealing an AK‑47 rifle belonging to a fellow soldier.
The court held that such illicit trade directly endangers troops, undermines military operations, and compromises national security, thereby constituting aiding the enemy. Brigadier General Abdullahi described the acts as a grave violation of the law and a betrayal of the trust, discipline, and honour expected of personnel in the theatre of operations.
Reaffirming the Nigerian Army’s zero‑tolerance stance on gross misconduct, fraudulent practices, and unprofessional behaviour, the Court President stressed that such acts erode discipline, weaken morale, and tarnish the service’s reputation. He noted that the Army’s commitment to accountability is demonstrated through thorough investigations, enforcement of justice, and promotion of professionalism, while reiterating that selling ammunition to adversaries or any unauthorised persons will not be tolerated under any guise.
