A recent claim circulating on social media about the suspension of Nigeria’s Chief of Air Staff, AVM H.B Abubakar, has been proven false. This is according to a fact check produced by the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD, West Africa) War Room. It will be recalled 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 on TikTok suggesting that the Chief of Air Staff had been suspended. The claim originated from an account purporting to be affiliated with and sponsored by the Nigerian presidency, boasting over 67 thousand followers and 200 thousand likes.
The response to the video includes speculation that the suspension may have been motivated by tribal considerations. In an effort to verify this claim, the CDD War Room said it 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.
Additionally, the CDD War Room examined the social media pages of the Air Force, where crucial updates and announcements are typically shared with the public. No information was found regarding either the suspension of the Chief of Air Staff or the appointment of a new Chief.
Notably, it was seen that just three days prior to the circulation of the suspension claim, 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 significant doubt on the validity of the claim. The CDD War Room thereafter reached a definitive conclusion: the claim regarding the suspension of HB Abubakar is false. As of the time of this report, he remains in his position as the Chief of Air Staff.