The trial of former Chief of Air Staff, Alex Badeh continued before Justice Okon Abang, of an Abuja Federal High Court, with an operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), revealing more details into how the former Chief of Staff allegedly siphoned N1.4billion within seven months to construct a 5-story mall.
Nuhu Buhari, an investigative officer and forensic analyst at the forensic department of the EFCC, informed the trial court that, upon the constitution of a Special Task Force (STF) team, in November 2015 by the acting chairman of the commission, to investigate the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) arms procurement and the Nigerian Airforce contracts, they were assigned five addresses and properties to investigate.
The addresses located in Abuja, were listed as: No. 19, Kumasi crescent, Wuse 2, No. 6, Ogun river crescent, Maitama, No. 2 Nelson Mandela, Asokoro, No.2, Oda crescent off Aminu Kano crescent Wuse 2 and a plaza on Ahmadu Bello way, Garki 2.
As the lead investigator into the properties, he informed the court that, the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) was written for records of the properties, which they were furnished with and then proceeded to visit each of the properties.
While being led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacobs SAN, the investigator stated that on getting to the property at No. 2 Oda crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja, they found out that the property was a 5 floor mall under construction.
“The contractor was invited and it was made to oblige the commission with its projects account, on the analysis of the project account, it was discovered that over N800million out of the N1.2billion which was the total turn over to the account; the N800million came straight from the Nigerian Airforce.
“The Managing Director of Wright builders, the construction company was invited to shed more light on the inflow from the Nigerian Airforce account and explain the source of the balance of N500million, discovered to have come straight from the Bureau de Change, and he admitted that he was contacted by the then Chief of Air Staff to procure the land and build the mall for him.
“The BDC operator who paid in the money into the account was also invited while the rest of the transaction was traced to another of their colleague; Bani Nbaka Bureau de Change, that admitted receiving same from Mustapha Yahaya, Managing Director of Wright Builders”, he stated.
Upon invitation by the commission, the operator of Bani Mbaka BDC admitted receiving same from former director of finance at the Nigerian Airforce, S. A. Ishau for the construction of the mall.
“Analysis on the account of wright builders with Zenith bank revealed all monies came from NAF 106b account and NAF camp account, Mogadishu barracks.
“Air Commodore Seyi, E. A. Abu were invited from Cairo and Ishau, to which they admitted that it is part of the N500millon, is the N200million that was set aside from the account, for the Chief of Air Staff under the instruction of Ishau. They executed those payments over a period of seven months”, he added.
Earlier, Braimoh Gidado, an assistant deed registrar with the Adamawa state land registry, informed the court a property that was investigated by the EFCC with allocation number ADSMLS/9900, which he said was originally allocated to Muhammadu Fofoye before it was transferred to Abu Umar ventures limited and then to one Prince and Princess services
Badeh is standing trial alongside a firm, Iyalikam Nigeria Limited, on a 10-count charge bordering on money laundering, criminal breach of trust and corruption to the tune of N3.97billion.
He was alleged to have used the dollar equivalent of the sum of N1.4billion removed from the accounts of the Nigerian Air Force 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.
The matter was however adjourned to May 2, 3 and 4 for continuation of trial and evidence of the Prosecution witness 17.
