BREAKING: Court jails six Air Force personnel over Badeh’s killing

A General Court Martial in Abuja has jailed six personnel of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) who were attached to former chief of defence staff (CDS), Alex Badeh.

Onyxnews Nigeria understands that the late Badeh served as Nigeria’s chief of defence staff between January 2014 and July 2015.

Badeh was shot dead when returning from his farm along Abuja-Keffi road on December 18, 2018.

In a statement on Saturday, Ibikunle Daramola, NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, said the six Airforce personnel, who were supposed to provide armed security for Badeh, were jailed on Friday.

But he did not indicate the jail terms of the convicts.

The convicted personnel include: Squadron Leader Tom Gwani, Flight Sergeant Amu David, Flight Sergeant Philemon Degema, Flight Sergeant Sabo Simon, Sergeant Mukhtar Abdullahi and Sergeant Alfred Alexander.

Presiding the General Court Martial is Air Commodore David Aluku who found the six personnel guilty of absconding from the convoy of the former CDS, while it came under attack.

However, the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information said in the statement: “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,” he said.

“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,” he said in the statement read.