Court Martial Sentences 6 Badeh Aides
The General Court Martial (GCMQ) sitting at the Nigerian Air Force Base in Abuja has sentenced to jail, six Air Force personnel who were aides to a former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), late Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh.
In a statement signed by the Director, NAF Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, the sentences were handed down on May 29.
Six NAF personnel standing trial for various offences include Squadron Leader Tom Gwani, Flight Sergeant Amu David, Flight Sergeant Philemon Degema, Flight Sergeant Sabo Simon, Sergeant Mukhtar Abdullahi and Sergeant Alfred Alexander.
He said four of them were detailed to provide armed escort for the late Badeh, while two others were detailed for guard duty at his house on December 18, 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.
Daramola said the president of the GCM, Air Commodore David Aluku, pronounced the six 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.
He said the charges against the accused personnel 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.
Daramola said on the count of aiding and abetting, the court did not find two of the personnel guilty, hence the other four who were detailed to provide armed escort were handed various sentences.
Daramola stated that on the part of defence counsel, while pleading on mitigation, urged the court to show leniency as he described the accused persons as first time offenders.
Daramola noted that the sentences were announced as being subject to confirmation by the appropriate authority.