Court jails NAF officer for 21 years over N41m fraud

Officer Michael Oyebanji has been sentenced to 21 years in jail for criminal breach of trust, theft, criminal conspiracy, and misappropriation of N41 million.

Oyebanji, who was the Vice President of the 151 Base Services Group Multipurpose Cooperative Society, Makurdi, was convicted on 46 counts for conniving with three others to steal the money belonging to the cooperative.

He also suffered a reduction in rank to corporal and was further ordered to refund the money by the President of the GCM, Air Commodore Nazib Aliyu.

Also convicted were Flt. Lt. Sherifi Olawoore, Flying Officer Ademola Adekoya, and Warrant Officer Paul Atteh.

The Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, disclosed in a statement on Saturday that the judgment was handed down on September 24.

The statement entitled, ‘Financial misappropriation: GCM sentences MWO Oyebanji, three others to 21 years in jail’, disclosed that Olawoore was found guilty for being negligent in performing his duty as the president of the cooperative and awarded six months’ loss of seniority.

Adekoya, who was similarly found guilty of negligence as the cooperative secretary, was awarded one year loss of seniority.

In the same vein, Atteh, the cooperative treasurer, was convicted for negligence as well as falsifying documents and for criminal breach of trust.

He was awarded a reduction in rank from warrant officer to sergeant, in the first instance, and then eventually reduced to the rank of corporal.

He was also ordered to pay N1 million fine.

Meanwhile, the GCM has ordered Atteh’s release from detention.

The sentences were, however, subject to confirmation by the appropriate superior authority.

The statement said, “MWO Michael Oyebanji, who was the Vice President of the Cooperative, was tried on 46 counts including; criminal breach of trust, theft, criminal conspiracy, criminal misappropriation, making of false documents and conduct to the prejudice of service discipline, contrary to sections 114 and 103 (d) of the Armed Forces Act Cap A20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and Sections 312, 287, 96 and 309 of the Penal Code Cap P3 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”

While pleading for mitigation, the defence counsel urged the court to “show leniency, describing the accused as first-time offenders.”