…Demands Independent Probe, Public Disclosure of Findings
Human rights advocate and public interest lawyer, Tope Temokun, has given the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) 48 hours to confirm the preservation of evidence relating to the crash of its ATR-42 aircraft in Igbokoda, Ondo State, while demanding an independent investigation into the tragedy that claimed 25 lives.
Temokun, in a letter dated October 8, 2026, and addressed to the Chief of Air Staff at the NAF Headquarters, Abuja, called for a comprehensive investigation into the immediate and underlying causes of the crash.
He also demanded the public release of the investigation’s findings, accountability where wrongdoing is established and a comprehensive review of military aviation safety procedures.
The lawyer copied the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Minister of Defence and the Chief of Defence Staff.
The aircraft, identified as NAF 931, reportedly crashed into a swamp in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, on Monday, killing all 25 persons on board, including five crew members.
Temokun said the circumstances surrounding the crash required a transparent investigation that would address public concerns, establish the facts and help prevent a recurrence.
He stressed that his demand was not an attempt to prejudge the outcome of the investigation or accuse any individual of negligence.
Rather, he said the loss of lives in military aviation incidents imposed a responsibility on the authorities to establish what happened and ensure that any identified failures were addressed.
Lawyer Raises Questions Over Maintenance
In the letter, Temokun, a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, Okitipupa Branch, whose jurisdiction covers Igbokoda and neighbouring communities, raised questions about reported technical work carried out on the aircraft at the 81 Air Maritime Group base in Benin City on October 4, 2026.
He said the reported maintenance intervention, shortly before the fatal flight, should be thoroughly examined by investigators.
“We do not suggest that the reported technical work necessarily caused the crash or that any particular officer or technician was negligent,” he stated.
“Nevertheless, the proximity between the reported maintenance intervention and the fatal flight raises serious questions which a credible investigation must comprehensively address.”
The lawyer said investigators should establish whether the aircraft was airworthy when it departed Benin, whether reported defects had been satisfactorily rectified, what inspections and tests were conducted and who authorised the aircraft’s return to service.
“These are not questions of speculation or hostility towards the Nigerian Air Force. They are questions of public safety, institutional responsibility and the protection of human life,” he said.
Demands Preservation of Flight Records
Temokun urged the Air Force to immediately secure all documents, recordings and physical evidence relating to the aircraft’s technical condition, maintenance history and operations before the crash.
He listed maintenance and technical logs, defect reports, engineering worksheets, work cards, component replacement records, inspection reports, airworthiness certifications and return-to-service authorisations among the records to be preserved.
He also demanded the preservation of flight records, crew reports, operational communications, air traffic control recordings and electronically stored information relevant to the aircraft.
Particular attention, he said, should be given to records of the reported technical rectification carried out in Benin City on October 4.
Such records, according to him, should include the identities of personnel involved, the work undertaken, technical findings and the authority under which the aircraft was cleared for further operations.
The lawyer further called for the secure preservation of recovered wreckage, relevant aircraft components and any flight-data or cockpit-voice recording devices fitted to the aircraft.
He warned that no relevant document, recording, electronic data or physical evidence should be destroyed, altered, overwritten or concealed while investigations and any related proceedings remain pending.
‘Investigation Must Be Beyond Doubt’
While acknowledging reports that the Chief of Air Staff had ordered an investigation into the crash, Temokun argued that the scale of the tragedy demanded a probe whose independence and technical competence were beyond reasonable doubt.
He called for investigators to examine the reported technical fault, the maintenance work carried out in Benin, pre-flight inspections, airworthiness certification and whether any unresolved defect or operational failure contributed to the crash.
He also urged the investigation to determine whether applicable maintenance procedures and safety standards were followed and whether any act or omission contributed to the loss of lives.
Beyond the immediate circumstances of the crash, Temokun called for a wider review of the Air Force’s maintenance oversight, airworthiness certification, operational supervision, safety management and regulatory oversight.
He said investigators should also determine whether recommendations arising from previous military aviation accidents had been implemented.
The lawyer urged the Air Force to involve technically competent investigators who were institutionally independent of any personnel or command structure whose actions might come under scrutiny.
He added that independent aviation accident investigators and other technical experts should be engaged where necessary.
“An investigation into a disaster involving a State institution must not merely satisfy the institution itself. It must also inspire the confidence of the families of the deceased and the Nigerian public,” he stated.
Cites Constitution, African Charter
Temokun anchored his demand for accountability on Section 33(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which guarantees the right to life, and Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which protects the right to life and the integrity of the person.
He said the repeated loss of military personnel and civilians in aviation disasters required more than investigations limited to the immediate causes of individual crashes.
According to him, the authorities must also examine institutional practices and implement safeguards capable of preventing similar tragedies.
Temokun requested written confirmation within 48 hours of receipt of his letter that all relevant records, technical documents, electronic information and physical evidence relating to NAF 931 had been secured.
He warned that, depending on the response, he would consider further legal steps under the Constitution, the African Charter and other applicable laws to ensure evidence preservation, effective investigation, appropriate disclosure and accountability where warranted.
The lawyer said the deaths of 25 people in a single military aviation disaster must not end with mourning and condolences.
Rather, he said, the tragedy should lead to clear answers, accountability where justified and meaningful safety measures to prevent a recurrence.
The cause of the crash has not been established in the information contained in the letter, and Temokun cautioned against drawing conclusions about responsibility before the investigation is completed.
