CDD War Room recalls that as part of the changes made in Nigeria’s armed services, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed new service chiefs on June 19, 2023. Among the newly appointed chiefs was AVM H.B Abubakar, who assumed the role of the 22nd Chief of Air Staff. However, in April 2024, a claim was widely circulated suggesting that the Chief of Air Staff had been suspended.
This claim, which originated from TikTok, was posted by an account purporting to be affiliated with and sponsored by the Nigerian presidency. Notably, this account boasts over 67 thousand followers and has garnered over two hundred thousand likes.
The response to this video includes speculation that the suspension may have been motivated by tribal considerations.
Claim: Has H.B Abubakar, the chief of air staff been suspended?
Verification
In an effort to verify this claim, the CDD War Room scoured through various verifiable news channels and traditional media outlets. However, it was discovered that none of these sources had reported on the purported suspension of the Chief of Air Staff.
In addition to scrutinising traditional news sources, the CDD War Room meticulously examined the social media pages of the Air Force, where crucial updates and announcements are typically shared with the public. Surprisingly, no information was found regarding either the suspension of the Chief of Air Staff or the appointment of a new Chief.
However, it was noted that just three days prior, AVM H.B Abubakar, in his capacity as the Chief of Air Staff, conducted a tour of the National Air Force unit in the Lagos area. During this visit, he also addressed the personnel of the Logistics Command in Lagos.
This recent activity contradicts the circulating information suggesting that he has been suspended by the president, casting doubt on its validity.
Verdict: FALSE
The CDD War Room can indeed confirm that the claim regarding the suspension of HB Abubakar is false. As of the time of this report, he is still in his post.
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