BREAKING NEWS: Ex-Defence Chief, Alex Badeh, Sent To Kuje Prison

Alex-Badeh

A Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, on Monday remanded the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh, at the Kuje Maximum Prison, pending the determination of his bail application on March 10.

Mr. Badeh was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, before Justice Okon Abang for alleged fraud, relating to the diversion of N3.9 billion meant for the purchase of arms for the Nigerian military.

Justice Okon Abang, who gave the ruling Monday, struck out the bail application filed by Mr. Badeh’s counsel, Samuel Zibiri, on the grounds that it was filed ahead of his client’s (Mr. Badeh’s) arraignment.

The judge ruled that the hearing for Mr. Badeh’s bail would commence on March 10, adding that it was important for the application to be determined before the commencement of trial.

Mr. Abang further held that the trial of the substantive case, billed to commence on March 14, would be on a day to day basis.

Mr. Badeh, a retired Air Chief Marshal, was arraigned on a 10-count charge bordering on money laundering, criminal breach of trust and corruption.

He was accused by the EFCC of using funds assigned to the Nigerian Air Force to purchase a mansion in Abuja.
The commission said the purchase was done with the dollar equivalent of N1.4 billion.

“Mr. Badeh, while being the CDS, among other things between January and December, 2013, allegedly 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 EFCC said in a statement LAST Thursday.

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, the anti-graft body said.

Badeh has denied all allegations of corruption against him.