Six Years After PRNigeria Exclusive, Supreme Court Clears General Hakeem Otiki

Six years after PRNigeria published an exclusive investigative report questioning the controversial trial, demotion and dismissal of former General Officer Commanding (GOC) 8 Division, Major General Hakeem Oladapo Otiki (rtd), the Supreme Court has finally cleared the senior military officer of all charges, effectively vindicating the position earlier canvassed by the media organisation.

In a unanimous judgment delivered by a five-member panel, the apex court upheld the December 2024 decision of the Court of Appeal which nullified Otiki’s conviction by a General Court Martial (GCM) of the Nigerian Army.

The Supreme Court consequently dismissed the Nigerian Army’s appeal and affirmed the discharge and acquittal of the retired General, bringing to a close one of the most controversial military trials in recent Nigerian history.

The judgment marked a dramatic reversal of the sanctions imposed on Otiki in 2020 when he was convicted over the disappearance of ₦100 million allegedly stolen by soldiers assigned to transport the funds from Sokoto to Kaduna in July 2019.

At the time, the military tribunal ordered his dismissal from service, reduction in rank from Major General to Brigadier General, and issued a severe reprimand — sanctions subsequently ratified by the Army Council.

However, Otiki consistently maintained his innocence, arguing that he neither stole the funds nor concealed the incident, having promptly reported the theft to military authorities and refunded the missing ₦100 million.

The Court of Appeal had agreed with his position, voiding the entire proceedings of the General Court Martial, restoring his rank and directing the payment of all his entitlements.

The Nigerian Army challenged the decision at the Supreme Court, but the apex court on Friday affirmed the appellate judgment, finally clearing Otiki of all allegations.

The latest development has renewed attention on a PRNigeria exclusive report published in June 2020 under the headline: “Gen. Otiki: Caught in the Web of Sokoto Election Politics.” (https://prnigeria.com/2020/06/21/otiki-web-sokoto-election/)

The report had questioned the circumstances surrounding the General’s prosecution and suggested that his ordeal may have been linked to political intrigues surrounding the 2019 Sokoto governorship election.

PRNigeria had reported that some credible military and political sources believed Otiki’s refusal to allegedly compromise the military’s neutrality during the supplementary governorship election in Sokoto contributed to his subsequent travails.

Major General Otiki was appointed GOC 8 Division, Sokoto, on March 16, 2019, shortly after the March 9 governorship election in the state was declared inconclusive due to the narrow margin between Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Alhaji Ahmad Aliyu.

Upon assumption of office, Otiki reportedly warned military personnel against any illegal involvement in the rerun election, insisting that no officer or soldier should participate in election duties without clearance from Army Headquarters.

During a “Show of Force” operation ahead of the supplementary election, the General also urged residents to come out freely and peacefully to exercise their civic responsibilities.

Following the March 23, 2019 rerun, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Governor Tambuwal winner with 512,002 votes against Ahmad Aliyu’s 511,660 votes — a slim margin of 342 votes that generated intense political tension within Sokoto and Abuja.

At the time, PRNigeria quoted sources alleging that some politicians expected the newly deployed GOC to assist in influencing the election outcome in favour of a particular political interest.

According to one of the sources cited in the report, Otiki’s refusal to “play ball” allegedly triggered efforts to orchestrate his downfall.

“Though his deployment was purely for military operations, some politicians saw it as a strategic move to facilitate the outcome of the election in the state. That is why his travails were orchestrated by some powerful politicians who wanted him removed over his refusal to play ball,” the source had alleged.

The report also highlighted claims that some of the soldiers accused of stealing the money may have had links with political interests active during the election period.

Military legal experts and senior officers interviewed by PRNigeria at the time had questioned the severity of the punishment imposed on the General, especially considering his previously unblemished military record spanning over 34 years.

Otiki, who was promoted Major General in December 2016, held several strategic positions in the military, including Commander Infantry Corps in Jaji, Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to the Chief of General Staff during the late General Sani Abacha regime, and Defence Attaché.

He was also credited with coordinating the successful rotation of over 3,500 overstayed troops from the North East while serving as Commander Infantry Corps.

Military operations such as Operation Sharan Daji and Operation Harbin Kunama III were also reportedly executed effectively under his leadership as GOC 8 Division.

Ironically, even the President of the General Court Martial, Lieutenant General Lamidi Adeosun, had acknowledged Otiki’s outstanding service record before delivering judgment against him.

“Many will be praying to have such an unblemished career and record of military service in the country like the accused senior army officer,” Adeosun had remarked during the proceedings.

Similarly, Major General GAT Ochigbano, who testified during the trial as Military Secretary (Army), reportedly confirmed under oath that Otiki had no prior regimental offence throughout his military career.

Otiki’s lead counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Israel Olorundare, had pleaded for clemency during the trial, informing the tribunal that the General had already refunded the stolen ₦100 million and that some of the projects linked to the disputed operational funds had either been completed or were near completion.

PRNigeria had also reported that the retired General, whose wife was seriously ill at the time, appeared before the court martial in a wheelchair due to health challenges.

The soldiers accused of absconding with the money were identified as Corporal Gabriel Oluwaniyi, Corporal Mohammed Aminu, Corporal Haruna, Oluji Joshua and Hayatudeen. One of them, Lance Corporal Isah, later reportedly returned ₦15 million and $6,600 to the Army authorities voluntarily.

However, questions persisted for years within military and legal circles over whether the fleeing soldiers were ever properly prosecuted and whether justice had truly been served on Major General Otiki.

The General Court Martial that tried Otiki included Lieutenant General Lamidi Adeosun as President, alongside Major General A. Tarfa, Major General F.O. Agbugor, Major General F.A. Nadu, Major General N. Mohammed, Major General C.T. Olukotu and Major General C.C. Okonkwo. Major A. Mohammed served as Judge Advocate, while Captain A. Ibrahim acted as Liaison Officer.

With the Supreme Court judgment now affirming his innocence, many observers say the verdict not only restores the honour of a senior military officer but also reinforces long-standing concerns over political influence, military justice and the dangers of institutional scapegoating.

For PRNigeria, the judgment stands as a significant vindication of its 2020 exclusive report which had argued that Major General Otiki appeared to have been “caught in the web of Sokoto election politics.”