1.0       PREABLE

1.1       The House of Representative at its plenary sitting on Thursday 18th July 2018, received a petition presented by Hon E.J Agbonayinma on behalf of Ibrahim Mohammed Rabiu against the Nigerian air force on appeal that his dismissal be converted to voluntary retirement.

2.0       SUMMARY OF THE PETITIONER’S ORAL AND DOCUMENTED PRESENTATION

2.1       The petitioner Mr Ibrahim Mohammed Rabiu a native of Ibira from Ajaokuta lga in kogi state in his presentation stated that he was enlisted into the Nigerian Air force in January 20th 1992 and that after six months intensive training course at BMTC NAF base Kaduna, he was posted to NAFHQ Victoria Island Lagos where he served for eight years before his dismissal from service in 1999.

2.1     That he was dismissed on the alleged misuse of NAF communication gadgets while obeying clear orders not to allow any vehicle to park at the NA gate of NAF HQ in Victoria Island Lagos.

2.2       That he was posted on guard duty at NAF HQ Victoria Island Lagos on the 2nd of August 1999, when Mrs Patrin (wife of the former chief of defence Air chief Marshal O.O Patrin) parked her car at the gate of the entrance to the camp HQ NAF and according to him, she was as at that time unknown to him.

2.3       That on informing her not to park at the NAF gate as instructed on the notice board, she took offence and resorted into verbal abuse towards him. This however led to the scuffle between both parties.

2.4       That this singular action later led to his dismissal from service without consideration to follow due process.

2.5       PRAYER

The petitioner is requesting for the Committee’s intervention to ensure that his   dismissal is converted to voluntary retirement to enable him seek for another job.

3.0       INVESTIGATIVE HEARING

The investigative hearing was concluded on Wednesday 14th November 2018, after seven hearings with petitioner appearing to make both oral and documented presentation, while the respondent appeared once to make their presentations. 

4.0       PRESENTATION BY NIGERIAN AIRFORCE

4.1   The Nigerian Air force stated in their oral presentation that they could not go into   details as to what led to the petitioner’s dismissal from NAF.

4.2      That they only stated that the petitioner’s record was characterized with various acts of misconducts and indiscipline that cannot be tolerated in the military circle that as a result, they could not revisit the decision on the matter.

  5.0    COMMITTEE FINDINGS

The committee after series of investigations on the above petition came up with the following observations;

5.1       That the petitioner was at his lawful duty post at NAF when the incident occurred.

5.2       That the wife of the chief defence staff who unlawfully parked at the gate was prohibited by management of NAF and did not disclose her identity nor did she introduce herself to the petitioner before violating the rule thereby leading the petitioner to take action against her in error.

5.3       That such action should not have been used against the petitioner since he was at his duty post performing his lawful duty when the incident occurred.

5.4       That a case of punishment other than outright dismissal should have been slated to the petitioner in line with the NAF Armed forces act.

5.6       That the Nigerian Air force insists that they could not revisit the matter on the basis that the petition had been engaged in various acts of misconduct and indiscipline that negates the core values of NAF.

5.7       The position of the committee on the issue at stake however was that due process was not followed in the case of the dismissal of Ibrahim Mohammed Rabiu from service and as a result, the NAF management should revisit the matter and do the needful.

6.0       COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

The committee in view of the findings above urges the House to inform the Minister of Defence to direct the Chief of Air staff to convert Mr Ibrahim Mohammed Rabiu’s dismissal letter to compulsory retirement to enable him apply for job elsewhere.

6.1       For the management of NAF to pay him all his entitlement and retirement benefits to enable him afford a start up.

Rep. Uzoma Nkem Abonta                                        Pastor. Yilji Yakubu

Committee Chairman                                                 Committee Clerk