NAF Officer Found Guilty as Court Orders N12.35m Restitution to Victims, Payments Still Pending

A General Court Martial of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has found a Master Warrant Officer, Isah Ribah, guilty on several counts and ordered him to pay a total of about N12.35 million in restitution to complainants.

However, one of the victims says she is still waiting to receive the money despite the court martial’s decision and subsequent confirmation of its findings by NAF Headquarters.

The case centres on allegations that Ribah, who was serving as Chief Clerk at the 661 Nigerian Air Force Hospital, Ikeja, obtained money from several individuals under various circumstances and failed to repay them.

One of the complainants, Lagos-based graphics designer Laraba Umaru, told SaharaReporters that Ribah approached her in February 2023 and requested N3 million, allegedly claiming that his mother needed urgent treatment for kidney failure.

According to Umaru, Ribah promised to repay the money within three days and offered to pay 10 per cent interest.

She said she transferred the N3 million to him in three separate transactions on February 28, 2023, after believing his explanation and trusting him as a military officer.

Umaru later alleged that the medical emergency story was false.

She said Ribah subsequently made several small payments totalling approximately N850,000, leaving N2.15 million outstanding.

Umaru eventually reported the matter to the Nigerian Air Force, leading to an investigation and subsequent General Court Martial proceedings.

According to a military document obtained by SaharaReporters, Ribah faced a 10-count charge.

The court found him guilty on several counts, including Count Three relating to Umaru’s complaint.

For that count, the court ordered a severe reprimand and restitution of N2.15 million to Umaru.

The court also ordered restitution to other complainants.

The awards included N2.492 million to MWO Bako E., N2.6 million to Ambrose Ogeh, N700,000 to Obom Nsikakabasi, N1.66 million to MWO Sagbe Fubara (rtd), N1.65 million to MWO Ojugbeli and N1.2 million to Mrs Halima Ibrahim.

The total of the restitution orders amounts to approximately N12.35 million.

The report said the findings and awards of the General Court Martial were subsequently reviewed and confirmed by Nigerian Air Force Headquarters.

Ribah was also found guilty on a count involving disobedience to standing orders and was reportedly reduced in rank from Master Warrant Officer to Warrant Officer, with four years’ seniority on the new rank.

He was found not guilty on one of the counts and discharged and acquitted on that count.

Despite the military court’s restitution order, Umaru said she had not received the N2.15 million awarded to her.

She said that after spending years pursuing the case, she was being asked to submit another letter to Abuja before steps could be taken to implement the award.

The development has raised questions about the implementation of restitution orders issued by military courts, particularly where victims have already spent years seeking redress.

Umaru said the prolonged dispute had also affected her graphics-design business because the original N3 million was intended to purchase equipment and improve her workspace.

The case highlights the difficulties victims can face even after obtaining a formal finding and restitution order through an official justice process.