…red flag for cooperative executives
A General Court Martial of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Base, Makurdi has sentenced Air Force officer, Michael Oyebanji to 21 years in prison for misappropriation of cooperative funds of the force officers and personnel in which he was the vice chairman.
Oyebanji was found guilty on 46 count charge, including; criminal breach of trust, theft, criminal conspiracy and misappropriation. He was also demoted from Master Warrant Officer (MWO) to Corporal and ordered to refund the misappropriated funds.
He was sentenced alongside three other Air Force officers for the fraudulent misappropriation of funds of the 151 Base Services Group Multipurpose Cooperative Society.
Flt Lt Olawoore, president of the cooperative, was found guilty of negligence of duty, apparently for lack of proper supervision and was slammed with six-month loss of seniority.
The secretary of the cooperative, Flight Officer Adekoya was also found guilty of negligence of duty and would lose his seniority for one year.
Warrant Officer (WO) Paul Atteh, the treasurer of the society was demoted from WO to Corporal and would refund N1m.
President of the General Court Marshall, Air Commodore Nazib Aliyu who delivered the judgment, ordered the release of WO Atteh from detention.
Air Force spokesman, Ibikunle Daramola said the sentences are subject to confirmation by the appropriate superior authorities, and that the Air Force personnel have the right to appeal.
A public affairs analyst, Tonye Nedum hailed the General Court Marshall, and said the landmark judgment is a red flag for those who misappropriate cooperative funds entrusted to them. He noted that extant laws could be invoked anytime to summon various management committees of such bodies to account for their stewardship.