According to a statement by Presidential spokesperson, Reuben Abati, Air Marshall Alex Badeh is the new Chief of Defence Staff, replacing Admiral Ola Ibrahim. Major-General Kenneth Tobiah Jacob Minimah takes over from Lt.-General Azubike O. Ihejirika as Chief of Army Staff.
Read the State House press release after the cut...
STATE
HOUSE PRESS RELEASE
PRESIDENT
JONATHAN APPROVES CHANGES IN MILITARY HIGH COMMAND
President Goodluck Ebele
Jonathan has 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
Jacob Minimah takes over from Lt.-General Azubike O. Ihejirika as Chief of Army
Staff;
Rear Admiral Usman O. Jibrin
takes over from Vice Admiral Dele Joseph 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.
President 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.
Reuben
Abati
Special
Adviser to the President
(Media
& Publicity)
January
16, 2014
