Family members of Master Warrant Officer Michael Oyebanji, the detained Nigerian Air Force officer have raised alarm over plot by top officials of NAF to subvert justice on the case of the officer and that of Warrant Officer Paul Ayodele Atteh.
The family in a press release signed by the head of the family, Alhaji Oyebanji said that the family has received information regarding plot by top officials of NAF to undermine justice in the case of MWO Michael Oyebanji and Warrant Officer Paul Ayodele Atteh following the good defence they put up while going through the court martial.
“As family members, we cannot continue to fold our hands and allow Nigerian Air Force to continue to treat our son, Master Warrant Officer Michael Oyebanji and his colleague like common criminals over a crime they didn’t commit and every single evidence has vindicated them already despite several attempts by the cabal in the Nigerian Air Force to frustrate the trial. The said top officials of NAF we gathered are bent on dealing with them for their refusal to release loan to a superior officer who requested for loan without following due process.”
Speaking further, the family said that with the defence MWO Oyebanji put up through his lawyer and which saw him responding brilliantlantly to charges before the court martial, the family is optimistic of a favourable judgement and that no attempts should be made to undermine justice.
“Our son and that of his colleague have both served the Nation diligently and we wonder why good officers like MWO Oyebanji and WO Paul Ayodele Atteh could be framed up for insisting on due process in the disbursement of loan to a superior officer who is not even a member of the cooperative in question. We want the NAF to know that this is no longer a matter that can be swept under the carpet, the whole world is watching the Nigerian Air Force now.”
The family also used the medium to appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in the matter also seek assistance of Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and others to urgently come to aid of the innocent officer who has been detained for over a year for a crime he didn’t commit.