The Supreme Court on Friday affirmed the judgment of the Court of Appeal nullifying the conviction and sentence imposed on former General Officer Commanding, 8 Division, Sokoto, Hakeem Otiki, by a General Court Martial.
This intervention completely wipes away the General Court Martial conviction that had previously stripped the General Otiki of his career and status. With this final judgment, the legal battle concludes, ensuring that full military honours are now restored to the vindicated commander.
The Genesis of the General Court Martial Conviction
The complex legal saga started back in July 2019. At the time, Otiki served as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 8 Division in Sokoto. Investigators alleged that he ordered troops to move N100m by road from Sokoto to Abuja. The cash was meant to buy furniture for newly upgraded military quarters. However, the money vanished during transit, sparking an immediate security crisis.
Following the incident, military authorities quickly took action against the commander. The institution hauled him before a military tribunal to face serious charges. On June 16, 2020, the panel handed down a severe General Court Martial conviction on all counts.
- 2019: N100m disappears during transit
- 2020: Court Martial orders dismissal with disgrace
- 2024: Appeal Court clears officer, orders full refund
- 2026: Supreme Court dismisses Army appeal permanently
The tribunal sentenced him to dismissal from the military with explicit disgrace and dishonour. Furthermore, the court lowered his rank from Major General to Brigadier General and gave him a severe reprimand. The Army Council officially confirmed these harsh penalties later that year on November 24, 2020.
The Appeal Court Overturns the Sentence
Refusing to accept the ruling, the officer took his case to the Court of Appeal in Abuja. His lead counsel, Israel Olorundare, fought hard to clear his client’s name. During the intense legal proceedings, the lawyer argued that the senior officer neither stole the cash nor tried to hide the loss.
Instead, the defence showed that the commander acted properly throughout the crisis. The lawyer maintained that Otiki promptly reported the loss and personally refunded the missing funds. Additionally, the defence proved that the building projects tied to the money were either finished or very close to completion.
On December 5, 2024, the Court of Appeal ruled completely in the officer’s favour. The justices cancelled the entire trial and threw out the original verdict. Because of this intervention, the court declared that Major General Otiki acquitted status was fully justified. The judges ordered the military to pay all his backdated salaries, allowances, and benefits, whilst also returning his forfeited money.
Final General Hakeem Otiki Supreme Court Verdict
The military establishment refused to back down after the defeat. The authorities filed a fresh challenge, taking the Nigerian Army appeal directly to the highest court in the land. This final effort sought to overturn the lower court’s generous ruling and reinstate the original punishments.
“The Supreme Court on Friday affirmed the judgment of the Court of Appeal nullifying the conviction and sentence imposed on former General Officer Commanding, 8 Division, Sokoto, Hakeem Otiki, by a General Court Martial.”
In a clear, unanimous judgment delivered by a five-member panel, the apex court dismissed the military’s case entirely. The justices resolved every single legal point in favour of the former GOC.
