Jonathan sacks service chiefs, appoints new ones

President Goodluck Jonathan has sacked all the
service chiefs, who are statutorily the heads of the
nation’s military apparatus.
This was contained in a Facebook post by the
Special Adviser to the President on Media and
Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, on Thursday.
No reason was given for the changes.
The post read, “President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan
in the exercise of the powers conferred on him by
the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
approved the following changes in the nation’s
Military High Command:
“Air Marshal Alex Badeh takes over from Admiral
Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim as Chief of Defence Staff.
“Major-General Kenneth Tobiah Minimah takes
over from Lt.-General Azubike Ihejirika as Chief of
Army Staff.
“Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin takes over from Vice
Admiral Dele Ezeoba as Chief of Naval Staff; and
Air Vice Marshal Adesola Nunayon Amosu takes
over from Air Marshal Badeh as Chief of Air Staff.
“All the changes are with immediate effect.”
The new Chief of Defence Staff and former Chief of
Air Staff, Air Marshal Badeh was born on January
10, 1957 and joined the Air Force as a member of
the Nigerian Defence Academy’s 21 Regular
Course while the new Chief of Army Staff, Major-
General Minimah was born on July 27, 1959 and
joined the Army as a member of the Nigerian
Defence Academy’s 25 Regular Course. Until his
new appointment, Major-General Minimah was the
Commander of the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps,
Jaji.
The new Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Usman
Jibrin was born on September 16, 1959 and joined
the Navy as a member of the Nigerian Defence
Academy’s 24 Regular Course. Until his
appointment as Chief of Naval Staff, he was
Director of Training at Defence Headquarters.
The new Chief of Air Staff and immediate past
Commander of the Presidential Air Fleet, Air Vice
Marshal Amosu was born on August 1, 1958 and
joined the Air Force as a member of the Nigerian
Defence Academy’s 25 Regular Course. Until his
new appointment, Air Vice Marshal Amosu was the
Air Officer Commanding, Tactical Air Command,
Makurdi.
Jonathan has briefed the leadership of the National
Assembly on the appointment of the new service
chiefs and will, in keeping with the provisions of
the law, request the National Assembly to formally
confirm the appointments when it reconvenes.