Former Nigerian Air Chief facing corruption charges, 19 others Nigeria has had (photos)

The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) is the professional head of the Nigerian Air Force, which is the air arm of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

It is one of the largest in Africa, consisting of about 10,000 personnel and aircraft including 12 Chinese Chengdu F-7s, and 11 Dassault-Dornier Alpha Jets, armed helicopters, and military transport aircraft.

Former Air Chief Alex Badeh, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) under former President Goodluck Jonathan was found with the sum of $1million and land documents, a prosecution witness told a court in Abuja two months ago.

Alex Badeh who was Air Chief between 2012-2014 has been under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Below is a full list of the Chiefs of Air Staff Nigeria has had:

1. Colonel Gerhard Kahtz (1963 – 1965)

Born November 26, 1922, Gerhard Kahtz was Nigerian Air Force's Chief of the Air Staff from 1963 to 1965.

He arrived Nigeria on May 30, 1963 as head of the German Air Force Assistance Group (GAFAG).

2. Colonel Wolfgang Thimmig (1965 – 1966)

In 1956, Thimmig joined the newly formed Bundesluftwaffe and was the Military Attache of the Federal German Republic in Sweden between 1959 and 1963.

In addition to this he was the Nigerian Air Force's Chief of the Air Staff from 1965 to 1966.

READ ALSO: Nigerian Air Force commences 2017 recruitment exercise

3. Lieutenant Colonel George Tamunoiyowunam Kurubo (1966 – 1967)

George Tamunoiyowunam Kurubo was born in 1934 and died in 2000. He was Nigerian Air Force's Chief of the Air Staff from 1966 to 1967.

Lieutenant Colonel George T Kurubo was the third Commander of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), the first indigenous to hold the post. He was married, had four children, visited the government school in Bonny.

4. Colonel Shittu Alao (1967 – 1969)

Shittu Alao who was born in 1937 was Nigerian Air Force's Chief of the Air Staff from 1967 to 1969.

Lieutenant Colonel Shittu was the fourth Commander of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), the second indigenous officer to hold the post.

5. Brigadier Emmanuel E.. Ikwue (1969 – 1975)

Emmanuel E. Ikwue who was born in 1940 was Nigerian Air Force's Chief of the Air Staff from 1969 to 1975.

Brigadier Ikwue was the fifth Commander of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), the third indigenous to hold the post.

Appointed in December 1969, he was the first to hold the office designated as the Chief of Air Staff, Nigerian Air Force.

READ ALSO: Nigerian Air Force test fires locally produced rockets

6. Air Vice Marshal John Nmadu Yisa-Doko (1975 – 1980)

Air Vice Marshal Yisa-Doko was appointed in July 1975, he was the first Air Vice Marshal and Indigenous Chief of Air Staff of the Nigerian Air Force. He retired in April 1980.

7. Air Vice Marshal Abdullahi Dominic Bello (1980 – 1983)

8. Air Marshal Ibrahim Mahmud Alfa (1983 – 1990)

9. Air Vice Marshal Nuraini Yussuff (1990 – 1992)

10. Air Marshal Akin Dada (1992 – 1993)

11. Air Vice Marshal Femi John Femi (1993 – 1996)

12. Air Marshal Nsikak-Abasi Essien Uduok (1996 – 1998)

13. Air Marshal Isaac Mohammed Alfa (1999 – 2001)

14. Air Marshal Jonah Domfa Wuyep (2001 – 2006)

15. Air Chief Marshal Paul Dike (2006 – 2008)

16. Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin (2008 – 2010)

17. Air Chief Marshal Mohammed Dikko Umar (2010 – 2012)

18. Air Chief Marshal Alex Sabundu Badeh (2012 – 2014)

19. Air Vice Marshal Adesola Nunayon Amosu (2014 – 2015)

20. Air Vice Marshal Sadique Abubakar (2015 till date)

Watch this Legit.ng video on the activities of the Air Force:

Source: Legit.ng