The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian Air Force

  • Ex-Air Force chief gets 21-year jail term for N136m contract fraud

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced a retired senior official of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshall Tony Omenyi (retd) to 21 years cumulative term of imprisonment after being convicted on a three-count charge of fraud.

    Omenyi was the Managing Director of Aeronautical Engineering and Technical Services Limited, a subsidiary company of Nigerian Air Force, when he was said to have committed the offence.

    Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, in a judgment on Thursday, sentenced Omenyi to seven years per count and directed that the term of imprisonment shall run concurrently.

    The EFCC had in 2016 charged Omenyi and his company, Huzee Nigeria Limited with three counts of money laundering, upon a report by the panel set up by the Federal Government to investigate the use of the funds allocated for the purchase of arms under previous administrations,

    The prosecution said Omenyi, between January and November 2014, received various sums of money estimated at about N136,323, 000 through his company, Huzee Nigeria Limited from Sky Experts Nigeria Limited, a contractor with NAF.

    M.S Abubakar, who led the prosecution team alleged that Omenyi, a sole signatory to the bank account of Huzee Nigeria Limited, received various sums of fund from the contractor when he and the company reasonably ought to know that the various sums of money formed part of the proceed of corruption.

    By their conduct, the defendants were said to have violated section 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 and punishable under section 15(3) and (4) of the same Act, which provided a minimum of seven years and maximum of 14 years imprisonment for the offence.

    Omenyi was arraigned, with his company, Huzee Nigeria Limited, on November 11, 2016 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    They were charged with abuse of office and money laundering to the tune of N136,323,000 .

    The defendants, who was represented by Gordy Uche (SAN), denied the charges and pleaded not guilty to the charges, following which a trail was conducted, during which the prosecution called five witnesses and tendered about 20 documents, which were admitted in evidence, and closed its case on April 17, 2018.

    The defendant also conducted their case at the closure of the prosecution’s case.

    In his judgment on Thursday, Justice Dimgba analysed the evidence led by both parties and found that of the prosecution credible.

    The judge said: “Having fully reflected on the above defence as well as evaluated the evidence before me, as a matter of fact, I agree with the prosecution that the defence is a sham.

    “What motivation does the defendant have, for spending his own personal funds towards the execution of contracts awarded by the Nigerian Air Force on behalf of the contractor, when the proper thing to do is get the Nigeria Air Force to expend the funds on behalf of the contractor to ensure the project is done?

    “One indisputable thing is that, by the state of the law, and the entire circumstances of the case, the money received by the defendant as played out in count one, two and three, by themselves, raised criminal abilities against the defendants.

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    “I do not believe that the explanations given by the defence to the charges are credible

    “A public official with any role to play in any contract awarded by a government agency to a contractor should at all times operate at an arms-length with the said contractor.

    “The first defendant (Omenyi) has not operated by this standard.”

    “In the final analysis, the funds received by the defendants, as contained in counts one to three, are kickbacks in the contracts awarded by the Nigerian Airforce.

    “Any way it is looked at, either as a direct bribe or kickbacks, or as a share of revenue or profits with a business partner, so long as the source of the funds is from the Nigerian Airforce and linked to the execution of contracts of Nigerian Airforce, I am of the view that the monies as contained in count one to three are rooted in corruption.”

    The judge proceeded to convict the defendants on all the counts and sentenced the first defendant to seven year-per-count.

    Justice Dimgba equally ordered Huzee Nigeria Limited, “being a corporate entity” to forfeit the sum of N60 million in the custody of the EFCC to the Federal Government.

    He added: “I further order that the second defendant be compulsory wound up by the Federal Government.”

  • 2019: ‘Security agencies open joint security control room in Enugu’

    The Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Mr Balarabe Suleiman, says that security agencies operating in the state have opened a joint security control room for the general elections.

    “The purpose of the joint security control room is for effective security co-ordination in the general elections,’’ Suleiman told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Saturday.

    NAN reports that security agencies in the state included: Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Nigeria Police and Department of State Security Services (DSS) and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

    Others are Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria Prisons Service, Federal Fire Service and State Vigilant Services.

    Suleiman noted that all security agencies in the state are involved in the election security, although, the Nigeria Police remain the lead agency for election security.

    “It has been the directive of the acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mohammed Adamu, for every command to have a joint security control room for the elections.

    “The joint security control room is fully furnished; for all heads of security agencies or their representatives to be there as long as possible.

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    “It is also well furnished with all sorts of communication and information gadgets and stand-by operation vehicles attached to it.

    “This is for security issues during the elections to be attended to with speed in a most coordinated manner,’’ he said.

    According to him, the joint security control room, which is domiciled at the police headquarters in Enugu, will operate 24/7 this elections season.

    NAN reports that the Enugu Police Command distress numbers are: 08032003702, 08075390883, 08086671202 and 08098880172.

    Its social media platforms are: twitter @policeNG_Enugu and Facebook @nigeriapoliceforceenugustatecommand.

    NAN

  • Air Force destroys Boko Haram Camp in Borno

    The Nigerian Air Force said on Wednesday that it has destroyed Boko Haram terrorists’ camp and neutralized some of its fighters in a village called Arboko in Borno State.

    The NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola said in a statement that the strikes were launched after an intelligence platform had established the presence of the terrorists in the area.

    Air Commodore Daramola said: “The Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has decimated a Boko Haram Terrorist (BHT) camp and neutralized some of their fighters at a settlement called Arboko in Borno State.

    Read Also: Air Force strikes insurgents in Northern Borno

    “The operation was conducted on 18 February 19 while a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Alpha Jet and an Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform were providing close air support to troops of 82 Brigade Nigerian Army.

    “In the course of the operation, the ISR aircraft spotted a group of BHT fighters within Arboko village and vectored the Alpha Jet to engage their camp with rocket fire, thereby degrading the terrorists’ structures and neutralizing some of their fighters.

    “The NAF, operating in concert with surface forces, will sustain its efforts to completely destroy all remnants of the terrorists in the Northeast.”

  • Air Force strikes insurgents in Northern Borno

    The Nigerian Air Force said on Monday that its aircraft has obliterated terrorists base and neutralized several terrorists in Malkonory, northern Borno.

    Its spokesman, Air Commodore, Ibikunle Daramola, said in a statement that the strikes were conducted after intelligence reports have indicated the presence of the terrorists in the area.

    He said: “The Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has destroyed an Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) training camp and neutralized several terrorists at Malkonory in Northern Borno State.

    “The operation was executed on Monday, 10 February 2019, after Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft observed significant human activities with several structures, equipment and vehicles spotted camouflaged under the dense vegetation in the area used by the terrorists for training.

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    “Accordingly, 2 Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Alpha Jet aircraft were dispatched to attack the location, dropping their bombs successfully within the camp leading to massive fires and resulting in the neutralizing of several terrorists.

    “Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) by own and allied ISR later revealed that the terrorists suffered heavy casualties as a result of the air strikes.

    “The NAF, operating in concert with surface forces, will sustain its efforts to completely destroy all remnants of the terrorists in the Northeast.  ”

     

  • Tight security at Lagos airport ahead of Buhari’s visit for campaign

    A large number of security operatives were on Saturday deployed to strategic positions at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, ahead of the today’s visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the security operatives were already at their respective positions at about 6.30 a.m.

    They included officers of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Air Force, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

    Also on ground were officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps, who were controlling the traffic situation within the airport and its environs.

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    NAN reports that Buhari, the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Feb. 16, Presidential Election, is coming to Lagos, the nation’s commercial capital, to campaign for his re-election.

    He is scheduled to visit the Palace of the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, State House, Marina and will later address APC supporters at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, in continuation of his Next Level campaign.

    NAN

  • Video: Air Force strikes bandits in Zamfara

    The Nigerian Air Force said on Thursday that it had intensified its strikes on bandits in Zamfara State, killing scores of them and destroying their hideouts and trucks.

    Its spokesman Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola said in a statement that the bombardment was conducted after intelligence reports indicated their presence in the area.

    Air Commodore Daramola said: “The Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation DIRAN MIKIYA has intensified the bombardment of armed bandits’ hideouts in Zamfara State and environs.

    “The air strikes were preceded by days of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions, initiated based on credible Human Intelligence reports, which led to the identification of several camps being used by the bandits to launch attacks against innocent civilians.

    ” One of the air interdiction missions was conducted at dawn today, 7 February 2019, at a location in Rugu Forest South of Gurbin Baure, where some armed bandits were seen assembled by a logistics truck parked near their compound-hideout.

    “The ATF dispatched a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) attack helicopter and an Alpha Jet to engage the bandits’ truck and compound.

    ” Overhead the target area, the bandits were seen dispersing in different directions with some attempting to make a getaway in the truck.

    “The helicopter strafed the moving truck in successive passes immobilizing it and neutralizing its occupants.

    “The Alpha Jet simultaneously attacked the compound and destroyed one of the huts harbouring the bandits, which was seen engulfed in flames.

    “Credible Intelligence sources later revealed that several bandits were killed as a result of the attack.

    “The NAF, working in close coordination with surface forces and other security agencies, will sustain its reconnaissance and air interdiction missions to neutralize the armed bandits and deny them freedom of action in the area. “

  • Air Force strikes insurgents in northern Borno

    The Nigerian Air Force on Monday said Boko Haram terrorists have been neutralized in Limberi, northern parts of Borno State.

    Accordingly to the spokesman of the Air Force, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, air strikes were conducted against the insurgents following credible intelligence reports on their presence in the area.

    He said in a statement that their structures were also destroyed.

    He said:  “The Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has destroyed another terrorists’ hideout and neutralized some terrorists at Limberi, a cluster of small, co-located settlements made up of mud and thatched roof structures located about 92Km Northwest of Monguno in Northern Borno State.

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    The air strike was conducted on 26 January 2019 following credible Human Intelligence (HUMINT) reports indicating that the location was being used by the terrorists as a staging area.

    “This was later confirmed by Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions which tracked a group of terrorists heading to a location about 3km North of the settlements, where they had converged.

    “The ATF therefore dispatched 2 Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Alpha Jet aircraft to attack the location as the fighters were emerging from their meeting venue; hitting them in successive passes and recording successful strikes resulting in the destruction of several structures, which were seen engulfed in flames.

    “Each pass was targeted at the various compounds where the terrorists had dispersed resulting in the neutralization of several terrorists. ”

     

  • Buhari campaign train arrives Maiduguri

    The President Muhammadu Buhari campaign train on Monday arrived Maiduguri in continuation of its re-election campaign activities.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Buhari landed at about 10:30am at the Nigerian Air Force wing of the Maiduguri International Airport.

    He was received by Mr Adams Oshiomole, the Chairman, All Progressive Congress (APC); National Security Adviser, Maj. -Gen. (rtd), Babagana Monguno and the Minister of State Works, Alhaji Baba Shehuri.

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    Other dignitaries that received the president are Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno, members of the national and state House of Assembly and other party leaders.

    The president is expected to address a gathering of party supporters at the Ramat Square in Maiduguri, to drum up support for his re-election bid.

    Hundreds of party supporters displaying posters and singing solidarity songs throng the streets of the metropolis to welcome the president.

    NAN reports that the Borno State Government had declared Monday public holiday to enable the residents welcome the president.

  • Banditry: Air Force deploys air assets to Sokoto

    The Nigerian Air Force on Sunday said more air assets, equipment and a detachment of Special Forces have been deployed to Sokoto to boost anti-banditry operations and check other criminal acts in the area.

    According to the spokesman of the Air Force, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, the deployment is aimed at adding value to the efforts to deal with the spate of insecurity in some parts of the state decisively.

    He said in a statement: “The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) today, 19 January 2019, deployed a fighter aircraft, along with support equipment, and a detachment of Special Forces (SF) personnel to Sokoto to further boost anti-banditry operations in the Northwest of the Country under Operation DIRAN MIKIYA.

    “The deployment is aimed at adding value to the efforts to deal with the spate of insecurity in some parts of Sokoto State and the border areas between Zamfara and Sokoto States.

    “Receiving the air assets, pilots and SF personnel, the Air Officer Commanding Tactical Air Command (AOC TAC), Air Vice Marshal Oladayo Amao, charged them to exhibit the highest sense of professionalism as they go about their task of securing communities whilst ensuring they deal decisive blows on the armed bandits.

    “Also present to receive the personnel and equipment were the Commander Air Task Force Operation DIRAN MIKIYA, Air Commodore Ayoola Jolasinmi, and the Commander 119 Forward Operating Base (119 FOB), Air Commodore Jibrin Usman.

    “It may be recalled that, following an assessment visit to NAF units in Katsina, Zamafara and Sokoto States on 26 December 2018, the CAS had stated that facilities at the Sultan Abubakar III Airport would be upgraded to facilitate the deployment of NAF platforms and equipment to enable the conduct air operations from the Airport, for enhanced NAF response capability in support of the anti-banditry operations in the area”.

  • Air Force strikes Boko Haram in Borno

    The Nigerian Air Force said on Tuesday that it has carried out air strikes against Boko Haram terrorists at Auno, Borno State.

    It said in a statement that the attacks on the terrorists followed exchange of gunfire between ground troops and the terrorists throughout the night.

    The spokesman of the Air Force, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola explained that Boko Haram trucks were destroyed while several Boko Haram terrorists were neutralised.

    He said :”The Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has destroyed some terrorists’ gun trucks in air strikes conducted at Auno in Borno State.

    ” The attacks were executed Tuesday, 7 January 2019, whilst providing close air support for ground troops who were responding to an attack on their location.

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    “The ATF scrambled a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Alpha Jet and an Mi-35M Helicopter Gunship, supported by an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft, to locate and engage the group of terrorists’ gun trucks.

    “Overhead the target area, the ground troops were seen engaging the terrorists, who were in a convoy of gun trucks, in a fierce gun battle.

    “After deconfliction, the Alpha Jet and Mi-35M took turns in engaging the terrorists causing them to beat an immediate retreat. In the process, 3 gun trucks were hit and destroyed while several of their fighters were neutralized.

    “The ball of fire from exploding munitions in one of gun trucks was visibly seen. Some of the survivors, who were seen attempting to flee the location, were taken out in follow-on attacks. “