A Nigerian Army Special Court-Martial has sentenced three soldiers to life imprisonment for illegal arms trafficking and ‘aiding and abetting the enemy’.
In a statement on Tuesday, the 7 Division’s Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Lt Col Haruna Sani, said another soldier bagged a 15-year jail term.
He said the four soldiers were found guilty of stealing and selling military-grade weapons and ammunition, with some items allegedly smuggled across state lines hidden in bags of food.
‘The Special Court Martial, convened by the Acting General Officer Commanding 7 Division Nigerian Army and Sector 1 Operation Hadin Kai, Brig Gen Ugochukwu Unachukwu, has slammed two senior non-commissioned officers and two non-commissioned officers for arms/ammunition racketeering as well as aiding and abetting the enemy.
‘Pronouncing the verdict during the proceeding at Headquarters Theatre Command Officers’ Mess in Maiduguri, on 18 September 2025, the President SCM Brig Gen Mohammed Abdullahi stated that the court-martial convicted Sgt Rapheal Ameh, Sgt Ejiga Musa, and LCpl Patrick Ocheje to life imprisonments while Cpl Omitoye Rufus was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to several counts charges ranging from theft, unlawful dealing in ammunition, offence in relation to service property as well as aiding the enemy which are all punishable under the relevant sections of the Armed Forces Act (AFA) Law of Federation of Nigeria CAP A20 2004 and other extant laws’, the statement stated.
Providing further details, Sani said in the case of Sgt Raphael, a documentary evidence admitted before the court revealed that as an armourer with 7 Division Garrison, the SNCO conspired with late LCpl Ogbogo Isaac to pilfer ammunition from the division arms store.
‘It was further revealed that he collaborated with one Inspector Francis Ajayi and Francis Manasseh, all of the 30 Police Mobile Force, to conceal arms in bags of beans and smuggled them to Enugu and Ebonyi states for use by criminals.
‘It was also revealed that Sgt Ameh received the proceeds of this illicit trade through over 100 bank transactions between July 2022 and June 2024’, Sani added.
He further noted that for Sgt Ejiga Musa, while serving as 195 Battalion main armourer, he stole and collaborated with one LCpl Patrick Ochoje and also Inspector Francis Manasseh of 30 PMF to sell an AK-47 rifle and a large quantity of ammunition.
‘Records showed he collected the sum of over N500,000. Sgt Ejiga met his Waterloo when he attempted to sell ammunition to Inspector Francis Ajayi, also of 30 PMF’, he stated.
Additionally, Sani revealed that ‘Cpl Omitoye Rufus was also convicted for selling 40 rounds of 7.62mm special to one Inspector Enoch Nwokolobia.
‘In the case of LCpl Patrick Ocheje, while deployed at Forward Operating Base, Molai, also persuaded by Inspector Francis Manasseh to pilfer ammunition to be sold to militias during the communal crisis.
‘Investigation further revealed that LCpl Patrick received 20 rounds of PKT ammunition from Sgt Ejiga Musa of 195 Bn (M) for sale to terrorist groups in collaboration with Inspector Francis Ajayi.
‘The soldier was also found guilty of stealing an AK-47 rifle belonging to his comrade’, he added.
According to him, the court held that illicit trade directly endangered troops, imperilled military operations and national security, and, therefore, amounted to aiding the enemy.
The court president, Brig Gen Abdullahi, asserted that the activities of these bad eggs are not only a violation of the law but a betrayal of the trust, discipline, and honor expected of troops in the theatre.
He said the Nigerian Army maintained zero tolerance for gross misconduct, fraudulent practices, and unprofessional practices, adding that such acts eroded discipline, undermined morale, and brought the service into disrepute.
