Legal Battle Escalates: Ex-Major General Umaru Mohammed Appeals to Supreme Court After Misappropriation Conviction Upheld

Former Major General Umaru Mohammed seeks Supreme Court review after the Court of Appeal upheld his conviction for misappropriating Nigerian Army funds.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 11, 2026, 5:49 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from LEADERSHIP News

Appellate Court Affirms Military Verdict

The legal ordeal for former Major General Umaru Mohammed continues as the Court of Appeal in Abuja has largely upheld his 2023 conviction. The three-member panel, including Justices Abba Bello Mohammed, Okon Efreti Abang, and Eberechi Suzzette Nyeson-Wike, ruled that the evidence presented by the Special Court Martial was sufficient to establish criminal misappropriation. While the court partially favored Mohammed by setting aside counts related to forgery—citing that they were filed beyond the three-year limitation period—the core of the sentence regarding stolen funds remains in place.

The Original Court Martial Sentence

The case dates back to October 10, 2023, when a Special Court Martial at the Nigerian Army Headquarters Garrison found Mohammed guilty of stealing and misappropriating funds belonging to Nigerian Army Properties Limited. The sentence was severe: dismissal from the Nigerian Army, a prison term, and a mandatory restitution order. Mohammed was directed to refund $2,099,700 and ₦1,650,172,000 to the company, marking one of the most significant financial misappropriation cases in recent military history.

Grounds for the Supreme Court Appeal

Dissatisfied with the appellate court’s February 12, 2025, decision, Mohammed has now approached the Supreme Court. His legal team argues that the conviction lacks "sufficient and credible evidence" and that the trial process was inherently unfair. In a statement released on Monday, Mohammed characterized the proceedings as a miscarriage of justice and sought to have the entirety of the Special Court Martial's verdict nullified. He maintains that his defense was wrongly dismissed as inconsistent by the lower courts.