The General Court Martial of the Nigerian Air Force has sentenced 6 personnel who were aides of the former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh at the time his was killed.
A statement by the Air Force Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola says the 6 NAF personnel, who were standing trial for various offences are Squadron Leader Tom Gwani, Flight Sergeant Amu David, Flight Sergeant Philemon Degema, Flight Sergeant Sabo Simon, Sergeant Mukhtar Abdullahi and Sergeant Alfred Alexander.
While 4 of the personnel were detailed to provide armed escort for the late Air Chief Marshal Badeh, the 2 others were detailed for guard duty at his house on December 18, 2018 when the former Defence Chief was ambushed and killed by some gunmen on his way back from his farm along Gitata-Keffi Highway in Nasarawa State.
Delivering judgement, President of the General Court Martial sitting at the NAF Base, Bill Clinton Drive in Abuja, Air Commodore David Aluku, pronounced the 6 accused personnel guilty of various charges including Failure to Perform Military Duties, by absconding from the convoy of the deceased former CDS while it came under attack, as well as Conduct to the Prejudice of Service Discipline, for giving false statements.
The charges against the accused also included other Civil Offences of Criminal Conspiracy and Miscellaneous Offences Relating to Property, for illegally disposing of 79 rounds of 5.56mm live ammunition issued for the protection of the late CDS, among others. On the count of Aiding and Abetting, 2 of the personnel were found not guilty, while the other 4 personnel who were detailed to provide armed escort were handed various sentences.
While pleading in mitigation, the Defence Counsels urged the Court to show leniency, describing the accused persons as first time offenders. The sentences were announced as being subject to confirmation by the Appropriate Superior Authority.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
