Supreme Court upholds acquittal of General Hakeem Otiki

TribuneonlinengMay 15, 2026Read original

The Supreme Court of Nigeria on Friday affirmed the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which nullified the conviction and sentencing of former General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 8 Division of the Nigerian Army, Hakeem Oladapo Otiki.

In a unanimous decision delivered by a five-member panel of justices, the apex court dismissed the Nigerian Army’s appeal in suit number SC/CR/96/2025 and upheld the December 5, 2024 judgment of the appellate court, which discharged and acquitted the senior military officer.

General Hakeem Otiki had earlier been tried and convicted by a General Court Martial on June 16, 2020, over the controversial movement of N100 million meant for the purchase of furniture for renovated military quarters in Sokoto.

The General Court Martial, chaired by Lamidi Adeosun, found him guilty on five counts bordering on disobedience to service orders, theft of public property, diversion of operational funds, and engagement in private business.

Following the conviction, the tribunal dismissed him from the Nigerian Army with “disgrace and dishonour,” reduced his rank from Major General to Brigadier General, and issued him a severe reprimand.

The court-martial also ordered the return of recovered funds and monies that could not be properly accounted for to the Nigerian Army.

The case originated from an incident in July 2019 when Otiki, then serving as GOC of the 8 Division in Sokoto, allegedly directed soldiers to transport cash by road from Sokoto to Abuja before the money reportedly went missing.

During the trial, his counsel, Israel Olorundare, argued that the officer neither stole the money nor concealed the incident, stressing that Otiki reported the loss and personally refunded the missing funds.

The defence also maintained that projects linked to the released funds had either been completed or were close to completion.

The Army Council later confirmed the findings and sentence of the court-martial on November 24, 2020.

Dissatisfied with the outcome, Otiki approached the Court of Appeal in suit number CA/ABJ/CR/54/2022, challenging the composition of the court martial, alleging denial of fair hearing, and questioning the adequacy of the evidence used in convicting him.

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 his salaries, allowances, and entitlements, including the refund of forfeited monies.

The Nigerian Army subsequently challenged the decision at the Supreme Court, but the apex court upheld the appellate court’s ruling, bringing the prolonged legal battle to an end in favour of Maj.-Gen. Otiki