Best friend who hit and kiilled Arotile ‘has no driver’s licence’ [PHOTOS]

Former classmate of Tolulope Arotile, who knocked down the first female combat helicopter pilot of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), “has no driver’s licence”.

Tolulope Arotile died from head injuries on Tuesday after she was knocked down by a car driven by her old classmate at the Kaduna NAF base.

Military sources, according to Channels TV, said the classmate is a civilian who has no valid driving credentials.

The source reportedly said the driver, accompanied by his friends, visited his relatives at the NAF base and decided to drop off the late pilot whom he spotted on the road inside the base.

Arotile was knocked down in the process of reversing the car, the source said. The source added that the driver and other occupants of the car have been taken into custody by NAF.

The controversial circumstances leading to her death have led many Nigerians to call on the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government, most especially NAF to probe Arotle’s death.

Damilola Adegboye, Arotile’s immediate elder sister, had demanded a probe into her death. According to NAF, Arotile will be buried on July 23 in Abuja with full military honours.

Meanwhile, former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, has rubbished the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) account of how Tolulope Arotile died. On Saturday, the former presidential aide dismissed the explanation.  He said the death of the highly celebrated young officer was sad and tragic.

“She was courageous and formidable in battle, doing much harm to Boko Haram. The idea that she was killed by being knocked down on the Air Force Base by her best friend’s car is nonsensical. “Who is this best friend and what is his/her name? I suspect that Tolu was murdered & the truth is bring covered up. I urge the Chief of Air Staff to investigate this matter thoroughly.”

Tributes have continued to pour in for the late pilot, who was decorated less than one year ago. She has been described as an exceptional officer who was very committed to her job.

“I joined the military simply out of passion for it. Being a military personnel has been a long time ambition; the carriage and what it stands for are simply exceptional,” a statement by NAF quoted her as saying.

The Chief of the Air Staff, Sadique Abubakar, Friday received some members of the Federal Executive Council as well as members of the National Assembly who visited him at the NAF Headquarters to condole with him over the unfortunate demise of the young NAF pilot.

Those who came calling include: the Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, as well as the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed.

Also, a joint delegation from the upper and lower houses of the National Assembly, comprising 20 lawmakers, was led by the Chairman Senate Committee on Air Force, Bala Ibn-Na’Allah, and the Chairman House Committee on the Air Force, Shehu Koko.

See photos from Tolulope Arotile condolence visits:

The chief of air staff disclosed that NAF would therefore continue to give equal opportunities to female officers in terms of training, noting that a total of 11 female student pilots were currently undergoing flying training both within and outside Nigeria.

While reiterating the huge loss Flying Officer Arotile’s death was to NAF, Abubakar noted that the Service would continue to be consoled by the legacy she left behind.