Alex Badeh news.
The EFCC will today arraign former Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh, before an Abuja High Court on a 10-count charge ranging from misappropriation of N1.1bn meant for the Nigeria Airforce. According to The Nation, among the allegations leveled against Badeh include alleged spending of NAF funds to build a shopping mall worth N878,362,732.94; another N650 million for the purchase of a commercial plot of land and $2 million on a duplex in Abuja.
He is also accused of lavishing N240 million on another semi-detached duplex; buying a duplex for about N260 million for his son, Alex Badeh Jr. and spending N90 million to furnish the duplex. He was flown from Lagos to Abuja yesterday at about 7pm amid tight security.
Parts of the 10-count charge against him include:
- “That you Air Chief Marshal Alex S. Badeh (whilst being the Chief of Air Staff, Nigerian Air Force) and Iyalikam Nigeria Limited between January and December 2013 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did use dollar equivalent of the sum of N1.1 billion removed from the accounts of the Nigerian Air Force to purchase for yourselves a mansion situate at No. 6 Ogun River Street, Off Danube Street, Maitama, Abuja, thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under section 15(3) of the same Act.
- “That you Air Chief Marshal Alex S. Badeh (whilst being the Chief of Air Staff, Nigerian Air Force) and Iyalikam Nigeria Limited between January and December 2013 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did use dollar equivalent of the sum of N650,000,000 removed from the accounts of the Nigerian Air Force to purchase for yourselves a commercial plot of land situate at Plot 1386, Oda Crescent Cadastral Zone A07, Wuse II, Abuja.
- “That you Air Chief Marshal Alex S. Badeh (whilst being the Chief of Air Staff, Nigerian Air Force) and Iyalikam Nigeria Limited between January and December 2013 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did use an aggregate sum of N878,362,732.94 removed from the accounts of the Nigerian Air Force and paid into the account of Rytebuilders Technologies Limited with Zenith Bank Plc for the construction of a shopping mall situate at Plot 1386, Oda Crescent Cadastral Zone A07, Wuse II, Abuja for yourself.
- “That you Air Chief Marshal Alex S. Badeh (whilst being the Chief of Air Staff, Nigerian Air Force) and Iyalikam Nigeria Limited between January and December 2013 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did use dollar equivalent of the sum of N304 million removed from the accounts of the Nigerian Air Force and paid into the account of Rytebuilders Technologies Limited to complete the construction for yourselves a shopping mall situate at Plot 1386, Oda Crescent Cadastral Zone A07, Wuse II, Abuja for yourself.”
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Meanwhile the embattled former Chief of Defence Staff , denied claims that he was involved in the misappropriation of $2.1 billion arms procurement fund. In a statement he released today March 3rd, Badeh alleged that he is being persecuted. In a statement below stating his innocence and saying he is being persecuted Badeh explained....
I was Chief of Air staff from Oct 2012 to January 2014 and then appointed CDS. During my time serving as the CDS, funds for weapons were directly released to the Chief of Air staff, army staff and naval staff and not to me. I had no control over the funds and yet I am being accused of embezzling weapons funds.The office of the CDS had no operational control of the services and had nothing to do with their spending. The EFCC’s claim that I received $800,000 from my Director of Finance and accounts is untrue. I did not receive such money from the erstwhile DFA. If he claims to have given me money, where is the proof? Was it paid into my account? Did I sign for it?
In the case of the properties, if they claim the properties are mine and were obtained illegally through proxies then they should go to the court and get an order of forfeiture rather than trying to insist I am the owner of the properties. It is unfortunate that the media has unwittingly allowed itself to be used by interested parties to become judge jury and executioner in my case. Even when they claimed Billions were found in accounts of wives of some past Air Force officers, none was found with my family yet EFCC keeps generalizing and making it look like my family is involved too. It is rather unfortunate that the nation which I fought so hard within my means to defend against Boko Haram insurgents cannot guarantee my fundamental human rights.
During my time as the CDS, lives of both soldiers and civilians were lost. Territories were lost. We fought to regain our nation’s territorial integrity and the insurgents pushed back.
I LOST MY PERSONAL HOUSE AND HOSPITAL IN DEFENCE OF MY FATHERLAND (A hospital which I built many years ago and was equally used in the treatment of injured soldiers). NOW I AM LOSING MY FREEDOM TO THE SAME FATHERLAND THAT I FOUGHT SO HARD TO DEFEND
During the 2014 Boko haram attack on my village Vimtim, it was widely reported in the media that I sent a helicopter to evacuate my parents and relatives. Which parents? I am an orphan, I lost my father in the 70’s and my mother in 2013. My cousin, who lived next to me, was killed during the 2014 attack on my village. So who exactly did I evacuate? It is unfortunate that I didn’t come out to clarify some of these issues when they were reported in the media.
I was detained by The EFCC for 3 weeks and was not charged to court but was given onerous bail conditions by the Commission which I could not meet. A remand warrant was hastily obtained on the 25th February in Lagos as soon as The EFCC was served with a notice for my bail hearing in court by my lawyers. Why detain me for so long and issue such onerous bail conditions when they aren’t ready to charge me to court?
I reported to the EFCC when I was invited and would report anytime I am needed. All I ask for is to be given a fair hearing with the rule of law strictly adhered to.
It is a media trial and I am being persecuted.
Air Chief Marshal A. S. Badeh