A General Court Martial (GCM) set up by the Nigerian Air Force
(NAF) has sentenced six personnel attached to the late former Chief
of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, to jail.
NAF Director of public relations and information Air Commodore
Ibikunle Daramola made that this known in a statement issued
Saturday morning.
The statement reads:
‘Six Nigerian Air Force (NAF) personnel, who were aides to the
former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Late Air Chief Marshal Alex
Badeh, were today, 29 May 2020, awarded various sentences by the
General Court Martial (GCM) sitting at the NAF Base, Bill Clinton
Drive, Abuja. 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.
Four of the personnel were detailed to provide armed escort for
Late Air Chief Marshal Badeh, while 2 others were detailed for
guard duty at his house on 18 December 2018 when the former CDS was
ambushed and killed by some gunmen on his way back from his farm
along Gitata-Keffi Highway in Nasarawa State.
‘Delivering his judgment, the President of the GCM, 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.’
Recall on December 18, 2018, the former CDS was ambushed and
killed by some gunmen on his way back from his farm along
Gitata-Keffi Highway in Nasarawa State.
The Nigerian Police Force, operatives of the Department of State
Services and the military had thereafter arrested about 14 suspects
in connection with the murder, who confessed that they were on a
robbery and kidnapping operation.
A General Court Martial (GCM) set up by the Nigerian Air Force
(NAF) has sentenced six personnel attached to the late former Chief
of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, to jail.
NAF Director of public relations and information Air Commodore
Ibikunle Daramola made that this known in a statement issued
Saturday morning.
The statement reads:
‘Six Nigerian Air Force (NAF) personnel, who were aides to the
former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Late Air Chief Marshal Alex
Badeh, were today, 29 May 2020, awarded various sentences by the
General Court Martial (GCM) sitting at the NAF Base, Bill Clinton
Drive, Abuja. 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.
Four of the personnel were detailed to provide armed escort for
Late Air Chief Marshal Badeh, while 2 others were detailed for
guard duty at his house on 18 December 2018 when the former CDS was
ambushed and killed by some gunmen on his way back from his farm
along Gitata-Keffi Highway in Nasarawa State.
‘Delivering his judgment, the President of the GCM, 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.’
Recall on December 18, 2018, the former CDS was ambushed and
killed by some gunmen on his way back from his farm along
Gitata-Keffi Highway in Nasarawa State.
The Nigerian Police Force, operatives of the Department of State
Services and the military had thereafter arrested about 14 suspects
in connection with the murder, who confessed that they were on a
robbery and kidnapping operation.