Six Air Force Officers Jailed Over Death Of Ex Chief Of Defence Staff, Badeh

Six personnel of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) who were attached to former chief of defence staff (CDS), Alex Badeh, have been sent to prison.

The late Badeh served as Nigeria’s chief of defence staff between January 2014 and July 2015.

The six personnel were convicted by a general court martial on Friday.

NAF director of public relations and information, Ibikunle Daramola, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.

Badeh was killed in an ambush while returning from his farm along Abuja-Keffi Road on December 18. He died from multiple gunshot wounds he sustained in the attack.

Daramola  said the six personnel, who were supposed to provide armed cover for Badeh, were jailed on Friday.

He, however,  he did not divulge the jail terms of the convicts.

He identified the convicted officers as Tom Gwani, Amu David, Philemon Degema, Sabo Simon, Mukhtar Abdullahi and Alfred Alexander.

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He said “Six NAF personnel, who were aides to the former CDS were awarded various sentences by the GCM sitting at the NAF Base, Bill Clinton Drive, Abuja

“The personnel were standing trial for various offences. Delivering his judgment, the President of the GCM, Air Commodore David Aluku, pronounced the six accused personnel guilty of various charges.

“These included their 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.

“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.”