Air Force man to die by hanging for killing female colleague

The General Court Martial of the Nigerian Air Force has sentenced Air Craftsman Kalu Bernard of the Nigerian Air Force Ammament unit, to death by hanging for killing his girlfriend and colleague, Miss Oladipupo Sholape on March 12, 2017

Makurdi - A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) personnel, Air Craft Man (ACM), Kalu Bernard Ayomide, has been convicted and sentenced to death by hanging for killing his lover, Air Craft Woman Solape Oladipupo at the Airforce base in Makurdi.

The 22-year-old Ayomide was convicted based on charges of murder, house breaking, attempt to murder one Samuel Onah Echo, failure to perform military duties, disobedient to standing order and loosing service property.

Delivering the judgement at 8:30 pm yesterday, the President of the 10-man General Court Martial, Group Captain Elisha Bindul, held that the accused was guilty of six out of eight-count charges levelled against him.

Bindul therefore sentenced the convict to death by hanging.

It will be recalled that the convict had gunned down his lover, a female colleague, Air Craft Woman (ACW)  Oladipo Dorcas Sholape, on March 12 this year over suspicion that she was cheating on him.

The convict, ACM Kalu Bernard Ayomide, being led out of the venue of the court-martial. PHOTO BY: Hope Abbah

He had also made an attempt to shoot a civilian, Samuel Onah Echo, said to be a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) who he (Ayomide) suspected was having an affair with the deceased.

The court however acquitted the convict of two-count charges of impersonation and misconduct of drinking Izal with impression of poisoning himself based on the fact that the prosecution could not prove both charges beyond reasonable doubt.

Counsel to the convict, Abimiku Ewuga, of the Ebofuame-Nezam chambers in Makurdi, said the court had delivered its judgment but added that the decision would to be tested at the appellate court.

The Prosecution, Oluremi Ilori, on his part said justice had been done and that the deceased would be happy in her grave.

Meanwhile, the court held that the verdict would be subject to confirmation of the convening authority.

Source: Daily Trust