NAF SENTENCES PERSONNEL TO D£ATH BY H∆NGING FOR K1LL1NG HIS GIRLFRIEND

NAF SENTENCES PERSONNEL TO D£ATH BY H∆NGING FOR K1LL1NG HIS GIRLFRIEND 

A General Court Martial of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Tuesday sentenced Aircraftman Benard Kalu to death by hanging for the murder of his colleague and girlfriend, Corporal Oladipupo S. A.

The incident occurred at the Corporal and Below Quarters, Compound 9, Air Force Base, Makurdi, where Kalu, aged 21, allegedly broke into Oladipupo’s residence in the early hours of a Sunday and shot her in the neck at close range. He reportedly attacked her over suspicions that she was involved with another man.

Kalu also attempted to shoot a man found in the apartment, but his rifle malfunctioned. This gave the other man the opportunity to overpower and disarm him.

During the court martial proceedings, the Judge Advocate, Flight Lieutenant M.A. Umoh, outlined the eight-count charge against Kalu, including murder, attempted murder, housebreaking, disobedience of service orders, loss of service property, failure to perform military duty, and prejudice to service discipline.

Though Kalu pleaded not guilty to all charges, the prosecution presented 13 witnesses to support its case, while the defence called three witnesses, including the accused.

The defence counsel, Abimiku Ewuga, argued that the case was not proven beyond reasonable doubt and appealed to the court to show leniency, noting that Kalu was a first-time offender and the breadwinner of his family.

However, the court, presided over by Group Captain Elisha Bindul, found Kalu guilty on six of the eight charges and sentenced him to death by hanging. The judgment is subject to confirmation by the appropriate military authority.