The Nigerian Army (NA) Special Court Marshal (SCM) convened by the Acting General Officer Commanding 7 Division Nigerian Army and Sector 1 Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) Brigadier General Ugochukwu Unachukwu has slammed two Senior Non-commissioned Officers and two Non-Commissioned Officers to various jail terms 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 Brigadier General 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 (LFN) CAP A20 2004 and other extant laws.
In the case of Sgt. Ameh Raphael, documentary evidence admitted before the Court revealed that, as an Armourer with 7 Division Garrison, the SNCO conspired with the late LCpl Ogbogo Isaac to pilfer ammunition from the Division’s arms store. It was further revealed that he collaborated with Inspector Francis Ajayi and 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 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.
Sgt Ejiga Musa, while serving as the main armourer of 195 Battalion, stole and collaborated with LCpl Patrick Ochoje and Inspector Francis Manasseh of 30 PMF to sell an AK-47 rifle and a large quantity of ammunition, for which records showed he collected a sum of over Five Hundred Thousand Naira (₦500,000). Sgt Ejiga met his Waterloo when he attempted to sell ammunition to Inspector Francis Ajayi, also of 30 PMF.
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 was also persuaded by Inspector Francis Manasseh to pilfer ammunition to be sold to militias during a 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.
The court held that illicit trade directly endangers troops, imperils military operations, and compromises national security, thereby amounting to Aiding the Enemy.
Brigadier General Abdullahi further held that the activities of the personnel are not only a violation of the law but a betrayal of the trust, discipline, and honour expected of troops in the theatre.
The President also reiterated the NA’s posture on zero tolerance for selling ammunition to an adversary or anybody in whatever guise or form.
