Thursday 27 October 2016

Ex-COAS Alex Badeh Allegedly Stole N 1 .4 B From The Nigerian Airforce To

Former COAS Alex Badeh
Allegedly Stole N1.4Billion From The Nigerian
Airforce Account To Buy Properties In Abuja
Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court
sitting in Maitama, Abuja on Thursday, October
27, 2016 admitted another thirteen exhibits
tendered before it by the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission, EFCC, in the ongoing trial of
a former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall
Alex Badeh (rtd).
Badeh is being prosecuted by the EFCC alongside
his company, Iyalikam Nigeria Limited, for
allegedly abusing his office by using the dollar
equivalent of the sum of N1.4 billion (One Billion,
Four Hundred Million Naira) removed from the
accounts of the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, to
purchase properties in choice areas of Abuja
between January and December, 2013.
The offence contravenes Section 15 (2) (d) of the
Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as
amended) and punishable under Section 15(3) of
the same Act.
Counsel to EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, led the
seventh prosecution witness, PW7, Oluwatoyin
Oke (a business woman); from whom the first
defendant (Badeh) allegedly bought a choice
property in the Wuse 2 area of Abuja in evidence.
The witness told the court that she used to own
and live in No. 19, Kumasi Crescent, Wuse 2
Abuja also known as plot 456 Kumasi Crescent
Wuse 2, until 2013 when she sold it for
N260million.
Oke stated that after putting the property up for
sale, she was contacted by one Abba Maidama
who informed her of an interested buyer.
Upon inspection of the property, Maidama further
informed her that his client was ready to
commence payment in three installments.
The PW7 told the Court that the first installment
she received was $550,000.00 (five hundred and
fifty thousand United States dollars) which was
paid into her account by the agent.
Upon receipt of the second and third installments
of the dollar equivalent of N260million, Oke stated
that she signed and handed over all the original
documents and title deeds of the property,
including a Power of attorney, Deed of Assignment
and Deed of Sale to Maidama.
Prosecuting counsel now asked the witness to
ascertain copies of the documents which were
shown to her in court; and she did.
Thereafter, the documents were tendered and
marked as exhibits D8 to D20 with no objection
from lead defense counsel, Akin Olujimi, SAN.
Olujimi was called upon to cross-examine the
witness to which he declined.
Justice Okon Abang, thereafter, adjourned to the
November 2 and 3, 2016 for continuation of trial.
[Sahara Reporters New York]

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