The Supreme Court of Nigeria has affirmed the acquittal of former General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 8 Division, Sokoto, Hakeem Otiki, bringing an end to the high-profile military corruption case that led to his dismissal from the Nigerian Army.
In a unanimous judgment delivered on Friday by a five-member panel, the apex court dismissed an appeal filed by the Nigerian Army and upheld the earlier decision of the Court of Appeal, which nullified the proceedings and conviction handed down by a General Court Martial.
The ruling effectively restores Otiki’s full military honour, rank, salaries, allowances and other entitlements.
The case stemmed from an incident in July 2019 when Otiki, then serving as GOC of the 8 Division in Sokoto, allegedly authorised soldiers to transport N100 million by road from Sokoto to Abuja for the purchase of furniture meant for renovated military quarters.
The money was later reported missing, prompting the Nigerian Army to arraign the senior officer before a General Court Martial.
On June 16, 2020, the military tribunal convicted Otiki on all charges, dismissed him from service “with disgrace and dishonour,” reduced his rank from Major General to Brigadier General, and issued a severe reprimand against him.
The Army Council subsequently confirmed the verdict and sentence on November 24, 2020.
However, Otiki challenged the decision at the Court of Appeal in Abuja.
During the proceedings, his counsel, Israel Olorundare, argued that the former GOC neither stole the money nor attempted to conceal the incident.
According to the defence, Otiki promptly reported the disappearance of the funds and personally refunded the missing amount, while the projects linked to the funds had either been completed or were close to completion.
In its judgment delivered on December 5, 2024, the Court of Appeal nullified the entire proceedings and judgment of the General Court Martial, discharged and acquitted Otiki, restored his rank as Major General, and ordered the payment of all withheld salaries, allowances, entitlements and forfeited funds.
Dissatisfied with the ruling, the Nigerian Army approached the Supreme Court in appeal number SC/CR/96/2025.
But in Friday’s judgment, the apex court upheld the appellate court’s decision in its entirety, resolving the matter in favour of the former senior military officer.
