The trial of a former Chief
of Defence Staff, CDS, Air Chief Marshal Alex S. Badeh, began on Wednesday,
March 16, 2016 with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,
presenting its first witness, Air Commodore Salisu Abdullahi Yushau (retd)
before Justice Okon E. Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Yushau, former director, finance/account (DFA), Nigerian
Airforce between October 2010 and December 2013 told the court how Badeh allegedly
took money to the tune of N3billion from the coffers of the Nigerian Air force to
acquire properties in different parts of Abuja and Yola for himself and his
family.
Led in evidence by the
counsel to EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, Yushau told the court that the accounts of
the Nigerian Air force is being maintained under 3 main vote heads: Capital,
Overhead and Personnel Emoluments.
The PW1 stated how
personnel emoluments were released and when asked what the balance is used for,
he told the court that a balance of over N1billion is usually left depending on
the programmes executed within the month.
According to him, of the
N1billion, the sum of N558,200,000 (five hundred and fifty eight million, two
hundred thousand naira) is usually the amount earmarked for general administration
for the office of the Chief of Air Staff.
Yushau told the court that
the said amount is usually under the control of Chief of Air Staff . He added
that, “the amount in most cases was usually converted into US dollars by the
Finance Officer at Nigerian Air Force Headquarters, Abuja. Thereafter, it is
brought to the Director of Finance who in turn takes it to the Air House which
is the Official residence of Chief of Air Staff at the Niger Barracks.”
According to him, “no
acknowledgement is given for such amounts, but he usually tells the Finance
officer to meet him at the residence of the Chief of Air Staff so that he can
see when it is being handed over.”
When asked about a property
situated at No. 6 Ogun River Street, Off Danube Street, Maitama, Abuja, Yushau
told the court that, sometime in 2013, Badeh requested him to get someone to
buy him a good house in Maitama where he could retire to.
The witness stated that he
subsequently contacted a lawyer, named Usaini Umar who said he had three
properties for inspection. Eventually, he expressed preference for the property
at Ogun Street valued at N1.1billion
He added that, Badeh
directed that payment should be made for the house in dollar.
He also told the court that
Badeh directed that the document of the property be prepared in the name of the
second defendant, Iyalikam Nigeria Limited.
Yushau who dwelt
extensively on a number of properties linked to Badeh stated that the former
Chief of Air Staff abused his office by converting to personal use monies removed
from the accounts of the Nigerian Air Force.
The matter has been adjourned
to March 23, 2016 for continuation of trial.
Justice Abang had earlier
refused the application of Badeh’s counsel, Samuel O. Zibiri, SAN, challenging
the jurisdiction of the court and validity of the charge saying that the
application would be heard at the end of the proceeding.
It would be recalled that
Badeh among other things allegedly between January and December, 2013, used
dollar equivalent of the sum of N1.4billion (One Billion, One Hundred Million
Naira) removed from the accounts of the Nigerian Air Force to purchase a
mansion situated at No. 6, Ogun River Street, Off Danube Street, Maitama,
Abuja.
The offence is in
contravention of Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act,
2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.
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