How ex- CDS, Badeh cornered NAF’s N558.2m monthly to acquire houses – Witness

The head of Special Investigation Task Force of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abubakar Makadi, on Thursday, told Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja that the former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Bahed (rtd) illegally received the sum of N558m monthly for more than two years that he served as Chief of Air staff.

Madaki a prosecution witness who continued his testimony yesterday on the ongoing trial of Alex Badeh and Iyalikam ltd also disclosed that the anti- graft agency got the lead that unearthed the fraud allegedly committed by the two past Chiefs of Air Staff: Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh and Air Marshal Dikko Umar during an investigation into purchases of arms.

He said that from the misappropriated fund Badeh purchased No 6 Ogun River Street at N1.1b United States dollars equivalent. He also acquired various other properties.

Base on this and fund received from NAF by Rytebuilders construction company and platinum construction company made us to request for all account maintained by Nigerian Air Force camp Abuja. NAF provided us 7 accounts being maintained in Abuja by Air Force Camp Abuja. Four of the accounts with zenith bank, two other accounts with the UBA and one account at Diamond bank.

We discovers that one account in UBA received over a billion naira every month and the left over balance were distributed to various Bureau de change, Farsan .The owners were invited and based on investigation Squadron Leader, Emmanuel Abu was invited .

He explained that when he reported at the camp pay office he received a directive from his senior Group Captain Sinni Mohammed that 558m will always be set aside for the office of Chief of Air Staff (CAS). It was this monthly sum that were transferred for exchange into dollars.

Investigation also revealed that as soon as Abu collected the amount he handed over the amount to Sinni who handed over to director Salihu Yuishu who took same to the defendant, Badeh.

Yuaishu PW 1 was requested to report at EFCC he çonfirmed the statement of Emmanuel Abu Yaushiu also confirmed to EFCC that the dollars were handed over to Badeh.

He went further to explain that once the dollars are taken to the defendant’s house there is a property he purchased with it and that if the amount was higher, he, Badeh made up the balance and if the amount is less he (the defendant) collected the balance.

The witness said that Badeh was invited to EFCC office. Initially, to ascertain his role in the purchase of arms and troops welfare after a petition alleged that funds allotted for arms were used to purchase property in and outside the country by those in entrusted with it.

The witness said it also discovered that Badeh engaged the services of PW 1 Air Commodore Salisu Yishau a former NAF director of Account and Finance who in turn engaged Barrister Umar who handled the negotiations for the purchases of the properties.

“When Umar Hussini agreed with the property owner for N1.1bn he reported back to PW 1( Yishau) who promised to get to Badeh .” The witness further collaborated the evidence of Pw 1 that after two days he the Pw1 came and handed over the sum of 1.1b to barrister Umar.

According to the witness the document of the property were handed over to Umar who requested for a name and he was given the name of a company Iyalikam Nigeria Ltd. Barrister Umar also negotiated and purchased no 14 Adoke Crescent for Badeh, he said.

Madaki said that investigation revealed that two tittle documents for 14 Adoke crescent and no 6 Ogun River Street were taken to Pw1 (Yishau) who handed over to Barrister Timothy Ngang.

“All effort to get Barrister Timothy failed .Based on information that he operated a chamber at Area 3, we visited the office several times he was not there. EFCC also got information that

Timothy worked with Federal Ministry of Justice but a response to a letter sent to the ministry denied he worked there.”

The witness said that based on information the EFCC got the agency also trace Timothy to Masaka, Nasarawa State where he was said to be residing but could not get him.

Madaki said he believed that Barrister Timothy is evading the EFCC because surprisingly he (Timothy) spoke with Barrister Umar Hussini on phone and Timothy asked him if he could claim the property and Umar told him that they are both lawyers and he knows the implications.

He said when Badeh was invited he went through some of the reports and volunteered a statement. He was cautioned in the presence of his lawyer who also read the caution and the lawyer said it was okay and handed back the statement to Badeh. He wrote a statement himself and passed it to his lawyer who read it before he finally signed it then I counter signed .Hanza Abdullahi signed as a witness that was on 8 February, 2016.

The voluntary statement was admitted as exhibit after Akin Olujimi SAN and Samuel Ologunorisa the 2nd defendant counsel they said they had no objection. The matter has been adjourned to July 3, 4 and 5 for continuation of trial.