Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Maitama, has adjourned the trial of Alex Badeh, a former Chief of Defence Staff to July 3, after accepting more exhibits against him.
Evidence tendered included Badeh’s statement and additional statement to the EFCC, which were marked as exhibit T1011 and T1012 admitted in evidence.
Badeh and Iyalikam Nigeria Limited are standing trial on 10-count charge bordering on money laundering, criminal breach of trust and corruption to the tune of N3.97billion brought against him by the EFCC.
At Thursday’s sitting, the 19th prosecution witness, Abubakar Madaki, further told the court that investigations into a number of properties linked to Badeh exposed how several millions of naira was diverted from Nigerian Air Force, NAF’s accounts for personal enrichment, and acquisition of properties.
Madaki, an operative of the EFCC, while being led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, told Justice Abang that investigations were carried out on a number of properties linked to Badeh, including a property located at 6, Ogun River, in Abuja.
He testified that “In the course of our investigation, Hussein negotiated the sale of the property at the cost of N1.1billion. Yishau handed the money to Hussein in dollars and later change it to naira, then forwarded it to the owner of the house, Alhaji Bature, a former member, House of Representative”.
According to him, Hussein was given over two million dollars to pay the owner of the property and was asked to prepare a document with the same name ‘Iyalikam Nigeria Limited’ adding that, after the transaction Yishau gave the sum of N15million to Hussein.
Madaki added that “In the course of investigating the property, we also discovered that a name ‘Iyalikam Nigeria Limited’ was used for the said document. Iyalikam is a company belonging to Alex Badeh and his family”.
Husseini, according to Madaki, was also involved in the purchase of the property at No 14 Adobe Crescent, off Kumasi Crescent, Wuse, Abuja He said, Hussein confirmed in the cause of investigation that Yishau instructed him to meet the owner of the property.
Madaki told the court that, the document for 14, Adobe Crescent and 6, Ogun River were taken to the house of Yishau where it was handed over to Muji on the instruction of Badeh adding that “efforts to get Muji failed”.
“Information and phone calls received by NAF, Ryte Builders Nigeria Limited and Platinum Universal Company led us to various accounts provided by NAF in UBA, Diamond and Zenith Bank.
“We discovered that one of the accounts with UBA received funds as payee and emolument. Over a billion naira was seen as salary paid and balance left. As soon as the other account received funds they are distributed to the beneficiaries some of who are Farsman Bureau de Change (BDC), Gogori BDC and Judas oil”, said Madaki.
Madaki further testified that, “owners of the BDC were also invited: “Investigation revealed that Abu, cashier with NAF, always come for exchange of dollars. Abu confirmed that, a request was made to NAF Camp Pay Office Abuja, to the effect that a directive was given by his senior, Sinni that a sum of N558.2million will always be set aside monthly for the up-keep of Badeh, who was then Chief of Air Staff”.
He went on: “It was this money that was being taken to Bureau de Change for exchange to dollars.
The PW19 revealed that as soon as Abu received these dollars he handed over to Sinni, who handed over to Yishau who finally take same to Badeh.
Yishau further confirmed all properties earlier mentioned except the Yola property and the one at 2, Nelson Mandela, Abuja.
Further hearing in the matter continues on July 3 – 5, 2017