A Nigerian soldier, Lance Corporal, Babangida Ibrahim who killed and stole properties from a staff of the World Health Organisation, WHO, Mr. Bello Aliyu Abdullaha has been sentenced to 55 years in prison on Wednesday.
Lance Corporal, Babangida Ibrahim has been sentenced to a total of 55 years imprisonment for killing a staff of WHO working in Zamfara State and stealing his property.
The judgement was handed down by a General Court Martial, GCM, presided over by Major General PB Fekrogha.
The Court Martial, which sat at the Command Officers Mess 1, Asokoro, Abuja, convicted Lance Corporal Ibrahim on all four counts after finding him guilty.
With respect to Count One, the former soldier was sentenced to 40 years imprisonment, Count 2, five years imprisonment, Count 3, five years imprisonment and Counts 4, five years imprisonment. However, Counts 2, 3 & 4 are to run concurrently.
Troubles started for an Army Lance Corporal Babangida Ibrahim, while on deployment on Operation MESA to fight banditry in Zamfara State, at about 10 p.m on August 11, 2014, without justification, shot and killed Mr. Bello Aliyu Abdullahi (WHO staff) with his personal AK 47 rifle.
Following that, at 4 a.m, he broke into the house of Mr. Bello, located at Gidan-Dari, Anka LGA, Zamfara State where he stole a Gionee E3 and a Nokia handset belonging to him.
Lance Corporal Ibrahim also dishonestly took the Honda Accord car belonging Mr. Bello with registration number TRK 414 AA, containing one Laptop computer and the sum of N6,000, which he subsequently moved to Kaduna where his family resides and was using the car as a personal car before investigators arrested him.
Lance Corporal Babangida Ibrahim was however charged on four counts and they are Count One, Committing Civil Offence, Culpable Homicide by virtue of Section 114 of the Armed Forces Act, Cap A20, Laws of AFN 2004.Parts of the charge against him are the following:Count 2, House Breaking, punishable under Section 110 (a) of Armed Forces Act, Cap A20 LFN 2004.
Count 3, Offence of Theft, contrary to Section 286 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 287 of the Penal Code Cap P2 LFN 2004, triable by virtue of Section 114 of the Armed Forces Act, Cap A20 LFN 2004.
Count 4, Theft, contrary to Section 286 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 287 of the Penal Code Cap P 2, LFN 2004.
Members of the GCM are Major General P.B Fakrogha, President, Brigadier General J.O Ochai, Brigadier General P.O.E Pearse, Brigadier General E.J Ikomi, Brigadier General A.L Okpodu, Brigadier General S.D Makulo, Colonel M.K Ibrahim, Colonel L Abubakar, Colonel M.A Yusuf and Captain K.C Ogili who served as the Judge Advocate.
Counsel to the Prosecution – the Nigerian Army was led by Major Dipreye Biambo while Counsel to the Defence of the accused soldier was led by Barr. Felix Jimba.
The President of the GCM Major General P.B Fakrogha, revealed that the judgement is subject to confirmation by the convening authority which is the Nigerian Army.
