EFCC Hits Ex-CDS Badeh with 10-Count Charge [How He Alone Took N3.9bn]

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has filed a 10-count criminal charge against the former Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh, before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

The anti-graft agency alleged that the former defence chief looted funds from accounts of the Nigerian Air Force and used same to purchase choice property in the highbrow areas of Abuja. 

The commission also cited a firm, Iyalikam Nigerian Limited, as the second defendant in the charge bordering on money laundering, corruption and criminal breach of trust. The charge dated February 26, was signed by the Deputy Director of Legal & Prosecution Department at the EFCC, Mr. Aliyu M. Yusuf. 

The Allegations 

Specifically, EFCC alleged that Badeh had between January and December, 2013, used dollar equivalent of the sum of N650 million to purchase a commercial plot of land situated at Plot 1386, Oda Crescent, Cadastral Zone, A07, Wuse II, Abuja. 

Badeh was said to have between March 28 and December 5, 2013, paid N878,362,732.94 which he removed from the account of the Nigerian Air Force, into the account of Rytebuilders Technologies Limited with Zenith Bank Plc, for the construction of a shopping mall on the plot. He was also alleged to have diverted another dollar equivalent of N304 million to the firm, Rytebuilders Technologies Limited, for the completion of the shopping mall. 

Whereas EFCC, in count five of the charge, alleged that Badeh used dollar equivalent of N260million which he removed from the accounts of the Nigerian Air Force and paid to one Oluwatoyin Oke through Platinum Universal Project and Construction to purchase a duplex for his son, Alex Badeh Jnr., it said the defendant further used N60million to renovate the property situated at 19, Kumai Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja. 

The prosecution alleged in court-seven of the charge that Badeh used N90million to furnish the said duplex he bought for his son and the commission told the court that Badeh Jnr. was currently on the run. 

There are indications that Badeh will be arraigned before the no-nonsense Justice Inyang Okoro.