A Federal High Court in Abuja heard Tuesday that former Chief of General Staff, Alex Badeh bought choice houses in Abuja for his three sons at about N970m.
Information to this effect is contained in the testimony of a retired Air Commodore, Aliyu Yishau, who was the Director of Finance and Account of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) while Badeh was the Chief of Air Staff (between September 2012 and December 2013).
Yishau, who concluded his evidence Tuesday as the first prosecution witness, in the trial of Badeh and a firm, Iyalikam Nigeria Limited, said he assisted Badeh to buy “a semi-detached bungalow” for one of the ex-Air Force chief’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 located at No: 19 Kumasi Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja for his first son, Alex Badeh (Jnr) at N260m, with N60m spent to renovate it, while N90m was expended in furnishing the property.
While testifying on April 27, the witness also said Badeh bought another N320million house in Abuja for his 28-year old last son, Kam.
“In my statement to the EFCC, I said the 1st defendant has two properties in Wuse 2 that cost N260m and N320m. The house that cost N320m is the house adjacent to No 19 Kumasi Crescent, which was purchased from Honourable Bature. That was the one purchased for the last son of the 1st defendant, by name Kam. I cannot remember the address, but can identify it,” the witness said.
Badeh and Iyalikam were arraigned on March 7 this year on a 10-count charge of breach of trust and corruption for allegedly diverting about N3.97bn from NAF’s account.
Tuesday, Yishau, who was cross-examined by Badeh’s lawyer, Akin Olujinmi (SAN) insisted that he made payment for the property on behalf of the 1st defendant, who was his boss.
Olujinmi showed the witness a copy of one of the five statements he made to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), dated February 11, 2016, which he identified as his own.
When asked to identify where, in the statement, he stated that he participated in the purchase of the Embu street house, the witness said he was instrumental to how the house was bought for his boss’ son from one Alhaji Ishiaku Rabiu.
“The house is a semi-detached bungalow, and was bought at N240m. We paid in US dollars cash. I said in the statement that I made the payment. Because, the statement is my statement, and all I said in it is about what I did, where other people did something else, they are identified.
“I am the author of this statement; I am responsible for all that is said there. If somebody else made the payment, I would have said so. I approached Ishaku Rabiu for the purpose of purchasing the house.
“The house is next to my house. He explained that the house was rented out. He told me the price was N240m and he sold it to me at that price.”
The witness denied Olujinmi’s claim that the receipt for the property was issued in his name. He said “it is incorrect that I promised to suggest the details to be used at the time of the subdivision of the Certificate of Ownership (Cof O).
“At the time of purchase of the house, I negotiated with Ishaku Rabiu, and I told my boss (Badeh). I gave Ishaku Rabiu the name of the person buying the house – Air Chief Badeh. And I told him (Rabiu) that he is buying the house for his son.”
The witness said he was not aware that Ishaku Rabiu claimed, in his statement to the EFCC, that he (Yishau) did not tell him that he was buying it for somebody else.
“The documents that were prepared were accordingly handed over to Barrister Timothy as directed by Air Marshal Badeh. But I do not have any evidence of acknowledgment of the receipt of the documents by Barrister Timothy,” he said.
On why he was silent, in his statement to the EFCC, on how another of Badeh’s property at No.14 Azdope Crescent, Off Kumasi Crescent, Wuse 2 was purchased.
The witness said he was only asked (by the investigators) about the ownership of the property and not how it was purchased.
Yishau said he was the one who looked for and found the house. Said he did not negotiate with Bature, the owner of the house, with the purpose of buying it.
“When my boss, Air Marshal Badeh asked him to get another house for his son, Kam, I told him about a house Hon Bature wanted to sell and that the house was adjacent to that of Alex Badeh Jr.
“He became interested, but told me that he did not want people to know, that was when I suggested to him ( Badeh) that he can use Barrister Hussain Umar, who help in the purchase of Ogun River house, to deal directly with the owner of the property.
“So I introduced Barrister Umar to Hon Bature. Barrister Hussein Umar did the negotiation, when he told me about the price, I told my boss,” the witness said.
Olujinmi concluded his cross-examination of the witness Tuesday following which Justice Okon Abang adjourned to Wednesday for continuation of trial. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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This is a good example where the idiotic British Prime Minister referred to us as fantastically corrupt...Are your 3 sons the only Nigerians that deserve good housing. May God help Nigeria.
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