The 75 Strike Group of the Nigerian Air Force has been
in a mourning mood, following the death of one Wing Commander, C. L. Nwaogu in
detention. It was gathered that Nwaogu, who had been in detention for over four
months, was absent from duty without official leave (AWOL). This, it was also
gathered, made him to be Court Marshalled by a committee.
Efforts made by Daily Sun to get the version of the
commanding officer of the 75 Strike Group proved abortive as the issue of the
death of Nwaogu was said to be a military affair, that never required the
attention of a civilian. Sources from the strike group told Daily Sun that the
deceased’s defence counsel died in an auto crash on Bauchi-Gombe Road while on
his way to Yola to defend Nwaogu. The late Wing Commander was said to have been
detained within the premises of the 75 Strike Group because he presented a
resignation letter to the group after he had been absent from duty without
permission of the leadership of the strike group.
Feelers from the strike group and the barrack indicated
that the death of the Wing Commander was received with shock, given the fact
that Nwaogu was an amiable individual, and well known in the barrack as a
jovial man and humorous individual. The death of Nwaogu had generated speculations
from the rank and file of the barrack, as there had not been an official
position as to the cause of his death.
When contacted, the Nigerian Air Force spokesman, Air
Commodore Yusuf Anas, confirmed the death of the officer, but added that a
Board of Adjustment had been constituted by the commander of 75 Strike Group to
investigate the cause of death. Anas said the officer was being tried for
Absent Without official Leave (AWOL) and that before any officer was put on
trial, the court president would ask if the officer was fit medically to stand
trial. For him to be facing a court martial means he was medically certified
okay to face court martial.”
The NAF spokesman said the Nigerian Air Force could not
have been negligent in the health situation of the officer, “because he was our
officer and a senior officer for that matter, but death is what will come when
it will come.”