Former chief of defence staff Alex Badeh shot dead

Former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, had been shot dead, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has confirmed.

NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, announced this in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.

Daramola said that the former defence chief died from gunshot injuries sustained when his vehicle was attacked while returning from his farm along Abuja-Keffi Road on Tuesday.

“On behalf of officers, airmen and airwomen of the Nigerian Air Force, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, commiserates with the family of the late former Chief of Defence Staff over this irreparable loss.

“We pray that the Almighty God grants his soul eternal rest. Details later,” Daramola stated.

Born on January 10, 1957, Badeh would have been 62 years old in January.

The retired four-star flag officer ofthe Nigerian Air Force was the 18th Chief of Air Staff from October 4, 2012 toJanuary 16, 2014, and the 15th Chief of Defence Staff from January 16, 2014 toJuly 13, 2015.

He was under prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly diverting billions of naira meant for weapons until his death.