Court to make decision on fake Nigeria Air Force officer

ayodele johnson

May 2, 2016 9:10 AM

The suspect, who was a former commercial driver, said he was pushed to the crime of impersonation in order to fend for his family.

Chief Magistrate O.A. Olayinka, granted the suspect bail in the sum of N100,000, with two sureties in like sum.

A man identified as

Addullahi was arrested in Agege, Lagos, where he admitted to the offence. He stated that he got the Nigeria Air Force uniform from a friend for the sum of N5,000.

The suspect has been arraigned before a Magistrate Court in Lagos on a charge of impersonation and fraud.

According to Abdullahi, he used the uniform to escort traders carrying goods around Lagos, stating that he received N3,000 for each trip.

He was arrested after making three trips of the illegitimate business.

READ: Man arrested for impersonating Airforce officer in Lagos

Narrating how he got into the business, Abdullahi said, “I got the uniform from one of my friends, Ali. He is a soldier with the rank of lance corporal."

"He is serving in Lagos, but I don’t know the division he is attached to. We met at Agege. He told me that he got the uniform from a friend in the Nigerian Air Force and gave me to keep it."

“He said he wanted to give his brother, who is an Air Force officer. He gave me the uniform on January 17. Later, he said he wanted to sell it and told me to pay N5,000."

"I have not paid him the money yet. I used the uniform to escort truck carrying goods to Berger, Mile 12 and Ile-Epo markets so that the security agents would not stop the drivers."

"I did it three times before I was arrestedý. I normally collected between N2,500 and N3,000 per trip.”

Abdullahi, 32, who hails from Manufashi Local Government, Katsina State, is a graduate of Computer Engineering at a polytechnic in Katsina State.

He stated that he was a commercial driver before he ventured into the illegitimate business.

“I was a commercial driver. I shuttled between Lagos and Abuja. But the owner of the bus, my elder brother, collected it from me in December and sold it when he wanted to travel abroad."

“I have a National Diploma in Computer Science. I have applied for the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Air Force three times, but I did not succeed."

"I engaged in this act to feed my family. I have three children and my wife is pregnant. I regret my action.”

Pending the resumption of the case which has been adjourned till May 5, 2016, Abdullahi has been granted bail by Chief Magistrate O.A. Olayinka, in the sum of N100,000, with two sureties in like sum.

ayodele johnson