An air force officer, whose name is withheld due to the sensitive nature of his case, is currently in discussions with approximately four human rights organizations that have expressed their intentions to seek justice on his behalf.
This follows a general court martial held at the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) base in Makurdi, Benue State, which sentenced him to 21 years in prison for the alleged misappropriation of N41 million.
Despite the officer having left Nigeria and a civil court overturning the court martial’s verdict, he is receiving support from four international human rights organizations that are deeply concerned about his unjust incarceration and sentencing.
Military Mirror gathered that, as part of his efforts to pursue justice after the court martial’s verdict was overturned, the officer has granted interviews to several international media outlets.
He has also been revealing the corrupt deeds of certain senior NAF officers to these organizations, further highlighting the complexities surrounding his case.
Our correspondent has also gathered that the aggrieved Airman, whose wrongful imprisonment was quashed by a civil court, has not been reabsorbed by the Nigerian Air Force due to the alleged refusal of Air Vice Marshal A.H. Bakari, who is the Air Secretary of the Force.
The Air Secretary of the Force, we learned, has refused to acknowledge the judgment of the civil court that compelled the NAF to reabsorb the Airman.
A source familiar with the case told Military Mirror that even when a court of competent jurisdiction ordered the Makurdi Correctional Service to release the Airman, the Comptroller of the Makurdi Correctional Centre initially refused.
“The case involving this officer is more about persecution.
The Makurdi Correctional Service refused to follow the order of the court twice before it eventually released the Airman when a contempt charge was initiated against it. Today, the Correctional Service has been mandated by the court to pay damages to the Airman.
The source added: “If the Air Secretary is now the one blocking the reinstatement of the officer, NAF may equally face the same fate in Industrial Court.
That, of course, will put NAF leadership into serious questioning about its failure to follow the rule of law and Nigeria’s constitution.”
This situation underscores ongoing concerns regarding military justice and human rights within Nigeria, as advocates continue to push for accountability and transparency in such proceedings.
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