President Jonathan Sacks, Appoints New Service Chiefs

President Goodluck Jonathan has sacked all the service chiefs, who are statutorily the heads of the nation’s military apparatus.
 
Dr. Reuben Abati, special adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, in the Twitter and Facebook posts  gave no reason 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 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.”

Badeh was born in Vimtim, Mubi North local government area, Adamawa State on 10 January 1957.

He attended the Villanova Secondary School, Numan, Adamawa State, where he obtained School Certificate in June 1976.

He was admitted into the Nigerian Defence Academy as a member of the 21 Regular Course on 3 January 1977, and was commissioned Pilot Officer on 3 July 1979.

He was promoted Air Vice Marshal on 3 January 2008.

Air Marshal Badeh started his flying career at the 301 Flying Training School on the Bulldog Primary Trainer aircraft in 1979.

Between 1981 and 1982 he attended the Undergraduate Pilot Training at Vance Air Force Base in the United States Air Force. He was at the 301 Flying Training School (FTS) as a squadron pilot and later became an instructor pilot on the Bull Dog and DO-228 aircraft.

He attended the junior staff course at Armed Forces Command and Staff College in 1988.

Between 1995 to 1996 he attended the senior staff course at same institution.

In 2005 he was at the National War College Nigeria as a member of Course 14 and graduated in August 2006.

The Air Marshal holds an M.Sc degree in Strategic Studies from the University of Ibadan.

Air Marshal Badeh has held several Command and Staff appointments.

He was at different times Staff Officer 2 Operations at Training Command, Commanding Officer Administration, Operations Support and Operations Wings, as well as Fleet Operations Officer in the Presidential Air Fleet.

He was also once the Command Training officer at Headquarters Training Command. From June 2002 to October 2004, he was appointed Commander Presidential Air Fleet.

Between 2008 – 2009 Air Marshal Badeh was a Directing Staff at the National Defence College, Abuja, Nigeria and subsequently became the Director National Military Strategy at the same college.

Thereafter, he moved to Defence Headquarters as Deputy Director Training and later became the Director of Research at the Defence Headquarters.

From October 2010 to March 2012, Air Marshal Badeh moved to Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force as Chief of Policy and Plans.

The senior officer has over 6000 flying hours on several aircraft types in the Nigerian Air Force.

Some of the air crafts he flew include Bulldog, DO 128-6, DO 228, and Hawker 125 aircraft.

Other air crafts flown by Air Mshl Badeh are Hawker 1000, Falcon 900 and Gulfstream 5 aircraft.

He is also a Qualified Flying Instructor. Air Marshal Badeh also has extensive International Flight Operations experience. Subsequently, in March 2012, he was appointed Air Officer Commanding Training Command, Kaduna.

On 4 October 2012, Air Marshal Badeh was appointed 18th Chief of the Air Staff, Nigerian Air Force.

He is married to Mary Iyah Badeh and they are blessed with three children; two boys and a girl.

Air Marshal Badeh is a recipient of several medals. Some of these include; Forces Service Star (FSS), Meritorious Service Star (MSS) and Distinguished Service Star (DSS) as well as the republic medals.