Federal High Court discharge, acquits former Chief of Air Staff, Mohammed Umar.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has discharged and acquitted a former Chief of Air Staff, Mohammed Umar, who was found guilty of diverting 66 million naira from the account of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).

Delivering judgement on the case, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, held that there was nothing in the evidence of the prosecution linking Mr. Umar to instructing the transfer of the said funds for the renovation of his private property in Abuja.

Ruling on the propriety of the evidence led by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in February 2021, the judge dismissed six out of the seven charges initially lodged against Mr. Umar by the anti-graft agency.

Counsel to the EFCC, Mr. Sylnanus Tahir, spoke to newsmen shortly after the judgment was passed.

The judge, however, ordered the former Air chief to refund the sum of 57 million naira, which he used to refurbish his private property at Asokoro area of Abuja, to the Nigeria Air Force within seven working days.

Kevin Madu