NAF begins trial for airman who killed female colleague

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) specially constituted General Court Martial yesterday commenced trial for Aircraft Man (ACM), Kalu Bernard Ayomide, who allegedly killed his lover and female colleague at the Airforce base in Makurdi.

The accused was arraigned before the military court at exactly 10:50am on six count charges bordering on murder, house breaking, personation, attempt to murder one Emmanuel Onah Echo, failure to perform military duties and loosing service property.

The President of the court, Group Captain, Elisha Bindul, read the charges to the accused after confirming that he was in a right state of mental health to stand his trial.

Kalu, a regular airman of the 533 central armament depot of NAF, Makurdi was alleged to have pulled the trigger on an Aircraft Woman (ACW) Oladipupo Solape Dorcas at 5:30am on Sunday, March 12, this year at her house in the base after forcefully gaining entrance just as he had personated as an Air Force officer on his Facebook profile.

The court also heard that the accused attempted murder on one Onah Echo as well as failed to perform his military duties at the base defence on the said date contrary to the Armed Forces act Cap 20 and that he lost three live rounds of 7.62mm ammunition issued to him for base duty.

The accused however pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

The accused’s lead counsel, Nda Emmanuel Tsobaza, asked for another date to enable him prepare for defence. The prosecution did not object to the adjournment but said the matter required speedy trial for justice to be served to all parties involved.

The president, Group Capt. Bindul, after listening to the counsels, adjourned the case to June 2.

Daily Trust had earlier reported that Kalu allegedly shot his lover, a female colleague dead over suspicion that she was cheating on him and had also made an attempt to shoot the civilian believed to be a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) before his gun failed, allowing the victim to escape and raise alarm, attracting other soldiers in the neighbourhood to the scene.

The remains of the deceased, Oladipupo, it was learnt has since been buried at her country home, Badagry in Lagos State.