Alleged N5.9m bribery: Court remands Air Force chief in prison

 A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory High Court on Tuesday remanded a former Air Officer Training Command and a member of the Committee for Procurement of Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Alkali Mamu, in Kuje prison for allegedly receiving N‎5.9m bribe from a contractor with the Nigerian Air Force between 2014 and 2015.

Justice Salisu Garba ordered the remand of Mamu in prison shortly after the accused was arraigned on three counts of bribery on Tuesday.

The judge ordered that the accused should remain in prison till July 1, when ruling on his bail application would be delivered.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday arraigned Mamu on three counts of bribery.

The prosecution alleged that the accused, while being the Air Officer Training Command and member of Committee for Procurement under the Ministry of Defence, allegedly collected a cash gift in the sum of N5.9m for the purchase of a Range Rover Evoque, $300,000 and two vehicles from a contractor with the Nigerian Air Force, Societe D’ Equipments Internationaux Nigeria Limited.

The two vehicles – Ford Expedition SUV and Jaguar XF Saloon – are said to be valued at N15m and N12m, respectively

The prosecution alleged that the alleged offences were contrary to Section 17 (a) of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under Section 17(c) of the same Act.

The defendant pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him.

One of the counts reads

“That you, AVM Alkali Mohammed Mamu whilst serving as the Air Officer Commanding training Command and a member of the Committee for Procurement Ministry of Defence, Abuja between 2014 and 2015 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did accept a gift in the sum of five million nine hundred thousand (N5,900,000.00) from Societe D’ Equipments Internationaux Nigeria Limited, a contractor with the Nigerian Air Force to make up for the purchase price of a Range Rover Evoque from Coscharis Motors Ltd in performance of your official act and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 17(a) of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under Section 17(c) of the same Act.”