• Home
  • Anti-Corruption
  • Fact-Check
  • Economy
  • National
  • Security
  • Features
  • State
  • Event
  • E-Book
Search
  • Home
  • About
  • Adverts
  • Contact
Sign in
Welcome! Log into your account
Forgot your password? Get help
Password recovery
Recover your password
A password will be e-mailed to you.
PRNIGERIA PRNigeria News
PRNIGERIA PRNIGERIA
  • Home
  • Anti-Corruption
  • Fact-Check
  • Economy
  • National
  • Security
  • Features
  • State
  • Event
  • E-Book
Home Security NAF Prosecutes Personnel over Fraud in Cooperative Society
  • Security

NAF Prosecutes Personnel over Fraud in Cooperative Society

By
Ibikunle Daramola
-
July 14, 2020
NAF
NAF

NAF Prosecutes Personnel over Fraud in Cooperative Society

The attention of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has been drawn to some spurious, baseless and unsubstantiated allegations being made in some online news media as well as by an organization known as Movement for Social Justice and Care (MSJC) claiming that there was a plot to murder 2 NAF personnel currently standing trial before a Special Court Martial (SCM) in Makurdi for misappropriation of funds and that the NAF Authorities have continued to detain the airmen illegally under the guise of the SCM. The NAF would not have responded to the ridiculously orchestrated allegations as the case is still before a Court of competent jurisdiction. However, in view of the need to ensure that the discerning public is not left with a distorted impression of situation, it has become necessary to state the facts as they truly are.

The insinuation that the 2 personnel, Master Warrant Officer Micheal Oyebanji and Warrant Officer Paul Atteh, “were detained after they set up a Multipurpose Cooperative Society to service soldiers and interested civilians outside of the Nigeria Air Force to the disdain of their superior”, is not true.

The Cooperative Society in question was not set up by the duo alone but was initially set up by 35 Base Services Group (BSG), now 151 BSG, in 2014 where the duo and 2 commissioned officers were among the executive members. MWO Oyebanji was the Vice President while WO Paul Atteh was the Treasurer.

In 2017, the Cooperative started experiencing a downward trend due to alleged mismanagement of funds as it could not meet its financial obligations to its members who are largely serving NAF personnel. In 2019, a Board of Inquiry (BOI) was convened to investigate the alleged fraud which subsequently led to the constitution of the SCM.

Read Also:

  • NAF Donates 35,000-Litre Borehole to Edo Community
  • Baze University SRC pays Courtest Visit to Chancellor, Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmad
  • CP Dantawaye Assumes Duty as New FCT Police Commissioner

The insinuation that they were cleared by an investigation is also not true as an SCM would not have been convened if prima facie case of misappropriation had not been established.

The SCM, which was reconstituted on 7 January 2020 to try the case, had continued with its sittings until 3 April 2020 when it suspended its proceedings due to the national lockdown occasioned by the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The “endless adjournments” alluded to by the “petitioners” were not caused by the Prosecution but rather by the Defence Counsel, who, while taking briefs from other clients across the Country in addition to involvement in other civil court engagements, caused the delay in the timely completion of the SCM. The SCM resumed sitting on 13 July 2020.

It is pertinent to mention that since inception of the SCM, the family members, especially the spouses of the accused, have never been denied access to their loved ones. It is also noteworthy that the 2 accused personnel were granted bail by the SCM but could not meet their bail conditions which necessitated their continued stay in the NAF’s custody.

The Counsel to the accused had subsequently filed a suit at the Federal High Court Makurdi against the NAF but the case was struck out for lack of merit.

It is clear from the foregoing that the allegations against the NAF are merely a smear campaign aimed at tainting the sterling reputation of the Service. The NAF, as a highly disciplined and professional Force, does not tolerate or condone violation of human rights of any individual, much less the rights of its own personnel.

Accordingly, we will continue to work within the ambit of extant laws to ensure the fraud case is pursued to its logical conclusion to obtain justice for the thousands of Cooperative Society members whose hard-earned money is yet to be recovered. We will not be distracted in any way by campaigns of calumny in ensuring that justice is served, while guaranteeing fair hearing for the accused.

IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force
14 July 2020

VISIT OUR OTHER WEBSITES
PRNigeria.com EconomicConfidential.com PRNigeria.com/Hausa/
EmergencyDigest.com PoliticsDigest.ng TechDigest.ng
HealthDigest.ng SpokesPersonsdigest.com TeensDigest.ng
ArewaAgenda.com Hausa.ArewaAgenda.com YAShuaib.com
  • TAGS
  • Fraud
  • Micheal Oyebanji
  • NAF
  • Paul Atteh
  • SCM
Previous articleHow Naval Chief Maltreated, Tortured me Like Slave- Navy Seaman Cries Out
Next articleDaneji Community Extols AGF Ahmad Idris on Developmental Strides
Ibikunle Daramola
Ibikunle Daramola
http://www.PRNigeria.com

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

Chief of Civil-Military Relations, Air Vice Marshal Ibikunle Daramola,

NAF Donates 35,000-Litre Borehole to Edo Community

CP Dantawaye Assumes Duty as New FCT Police Commissioner

Seven Killed as Repentant Bandits, Illegal Miners Clash in Kaduna

Customs, Air Force Strengthen Synergy on Border Security in Kano

Inspector-General of Police Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun

Nigerian Police Secure Conviction of 59 Foreign Cyber Criminals in Major Crackdown

Nigerian Police Force

PSC Promotes Over 400 Officers, Appoints New DIG for N’East

CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa, has commended the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association DEPOWA Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Championship in Abuja.

CDS Hails DEPOWA’s Grassroots Sports Drive, Calls It Seedbed for Future Champions

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major-General Markus Kangye,

How Troops Crippled Terrorists, Bandits, and Oil Thieves in Nationwide Operation

Protest Will Jeopardize Peace Efforts for Kanu’s Freedom, Igbo Leaders Warn

Military Arrests IPOB Female Logistics Supplier in Abia, Rescues 30 Hostages Nationwide

Military Troops in Action

Military Neutralizes Armed Criminal in Benue, Arrest Suspected Gunrunner in Nasarawa

Police Officer

Police Arrest 11 Suspected Armed Robbers Along Katsina–Kano Highway

Recent Posts

  • NAF Donates 35,000-Litre Borehole to Edo Community
  • Baze University SRC pays Courtest Visit to Chancellor, Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmad
  • CP Dantawaye Assumes Duty as New FCT Police Commissioner
  • Seven Killed as Repentant Bandits, Illegal Miners Clash in Kaduna
  • Customs, Air Force Strengthen Synergy on Border Security in Kano
  • Home
  • About
  • Adverts
  • Contact
© 2020 PRNigeria. All Rights Reserved.
Latest News
NAF Donates 35,000-Litre Borehole to Edo CommunityBaze University SRC pays Courtest Visit to Chancellor, Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-AhmadCP Dantawaye Assumes Duty as New FCT Police CommissionerSeven Killed as Repentant Bandits, Illegal Miners Clash in KadunaCustoms, Air Force Strengthen Synergy on Border Security in KanoNigerian Police Secure Conviction of 59 Foreign Cyber Criminals in Major CrackdownPSC Promotes Over 400 Officers, Appoints New DIG for N'EastAisha Babangida Seeks Actionable Gender Reforms, as Women Entrepreneurs Share ₦10m WenA AwardsCDS Hails DEPOWA’s Grassroots Sports Drive, Calls It Seedbed for Future ChampionsHow Troops Crippled Terrorists, Bandits, and Oil Thieves in Nationwide OperationProtest Will Jeopardize Peace Efforts for Kanu’s Freedom, Igbo Leaders WarnMilitary Arrests IPOB Female Logistics Supplier in Abia, Rescues 30 Hostages NationwideMilitary Neutralizes Armed Criminal in Benue, Arrest Suspected Gunrunner in NasarawaEXPLAINER: The Truth Behind NDLEA’s Position on Cannabis Oil By Arafat A. AbdulrazaqNigeria Wins Two Major Global Awards for Digital Governance at OGP Summit in Spain
X whatsapp