Badeh Bought Choice Houses For Sons In Abuja At N970m – Witness

Alex Badeh-courtThe immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh (retd) bought choice houses for his three sons at about N970 million, the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja was told yesterday.
The erstwhile Director, Finance and Accounts of the Nigeria Air Force while Badeh was the Chief of Air Staff (between September 2012 and December 2013), Air Commodore Aliyu Yishau (retd.), made the disclosure in his testimony against the former CDS.
The former CDS and a company allegedly linked with him, Iyalikam Nigeria Limited, were arraigned on March 7 on a 10-count charge of breach of trust and corruption for allegedly diverting about N3.97 billion from NAF’s account.
Yishau, who concluded his evidence yesterday as the first prosecution witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in the trial of Badeh and Iyalikam Nigeria Limited, insisted that he assisted the ex-Defence chief to buy “a semi-detached bungalow” for one of Badeh’s sons at No.8A Embu Street, by Sigma Apartments, Wuse 2, Abuja.
The witness had earlier told the court that Badeh bought a house at 19 Kumasi Crescent, Wuse II for his first son, Alex Badeh (Jnr) at N260 million, with N60 million spent to renovate it, while N90 million was expended in furnishing the property.
While testifying on April 27, the witness also said Badeh bought another N320 million house in Abuja for his last son, 28-year-old Kam.
“In my statement to the EFCC, I said the first defendant has two property in Wuse 2 that cost N260m and N320m. The house that cost N320m is adjacent to No 19 Kumasi Crescent, which was purchased from Honourable Bature. That was the one purchased for his last son, Kam. I cannot remember the address, but I can identify it”, Yishau said.
Yesterday, Yishau, who was cross-examined by Badeh’s lawyer, Akin Olujinmi (SAN) insisted that he paid for the property on behalf of the first defendant, who was his boss.
Olujinmi concluded his cross-examination of the witness yesterday and Justice Okon Abang adjourned till today for continuation of trial.