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 N1.4billion (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.
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