Air Force Dismisses Warrant Officer Over Indian Hemp

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) after a four day court martial yesterday dismissed Master Warrant Officer Abba Musa Mohammed for illegal possession of 73.4kg of Indian hemp.

Delivering his judgment in Kaduna, the court president, Group Captain Cosmas Ozougwu, awarded the convict with dismissal from the armed forces, saying however that the dismissal is subject to confirmation of the Chief of Air Staff.

“The maximum punishment provided by the act for this act is imprisonment not less than 21 years, however, having listened to the passionate plea by the defence counsel and considering the convicts unblemished 29 years of service and taking into account the seriousness of the offence and considering the fact that the NAF contributes its own quota to the fight against drug abuse and finally the fact that the judgment is a two way traffic that is to the convict and to the NAF and indeed the Nigerian society, this court hereby awards the convict dismissal from the armed forces,” he said.

Confirming the contents of the 13 bags of substances in possession of the convict, Assistant Superintendent, Narcotics, NDLEA, Lokoja, Aminu Abdulmalik, said the substances were tested and found to be cannabis indicia.

The accused defence counsel Flying Officer Olayinka Akinfolarim, said the accused, who pleaded guilty, knowing fully well that he is guilty as charged, is sober, remorseful and sincerely regretted his action.

“I am not into any contention whatsoever, I don’t intend to waste the time of the court or the tax payer’s money, Master Warrant Officer Abbas Musa Mohammed is the bread winner of his family which consists of one wife and six children two of whom are dead. His eldest child is 14 while his youngest is 18 months old,” she said.