There are indications that the Federal Government has converted the 1.1bn mansion seized from the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh (retd) to office.
The property, which is located on Plot 6 Ogun River Crescent, Maitama, a highbrow area in Abuja, is currently being used by the Presidential Committee on the North-East Intervention, headed by Lt.-Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, a former Minister of Defence.
The warning inscription, ‘EFCC, Keep Off!’ which was written in red ink on the fence, had been deleted, Punch reports
However, a second building (although uncompleted) seized from Badeh, which is located directly opposite the one converted by the Federal Government, still has the EFCC inscription on its fence.
A source in the area said, “The property was given to us by the government to work. I know that the EFCC
The EFCC is prosecuting Badeh, alongside a firm, IyalikamNigeria Limited, on 10 counts of money laundering bordering on alleged fraudulent removal of about h from the Nigerian Air Force account.
A former Director of Finance and Account of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Aliyu Yishau (retd.), who is a prosecution witness against Badeh, had informed the court that while Badeh was the Chief of Air Staff, he routinely helped Badeh to divert the sum of N558.2m by converting it to its dollar equivalent.ized the property some months ago but it was given to us to work.”
The witness told the court that on assumption of office, he was intimated of the monthly disbursement of 558,200,000, officially earmarked for maintenance of the office of the Chief of Air Staff.
He said: “In 2012, I was posted to Camp NAF, as the Camp Finance Officer, my schedule involved payment of salaries, operations and miscellaneous, disbursement of funds with operations and overhead expenditure of the unit.
” In relation to accounts, I report to a Director of Finance and Accounts within the headquarters and I take instructions from him with respect to financial operations within the unit.
“I took over from Group Captain Ifeobu when I reported, he told me that a certain a figure of this amount NGN 558,200,000 is meant for the official administrative maintenance of the office of the Chief of Air Staff
Sini also told the court that he was to be reporting to the Director, Finance and Account on the details of disbursement.
According to the witness, it is the duty of the cashier to pay these balances into the accounts for payment of operation, Ration Cash Allowances and Sundry Training Beats.
The witness further told the court that the paper work carried out by his office was to generate mandate to the bank for the release of the funds to enable them execute instructions.
When asked if he knew the reason for transfer of funds to Ryte Builders’ account, the witness said there was no need for him to know that since the entire fund was meant for official maintenance.
“I did not ask because the entire fund was earmarked for the official maintenance of the office of the Chief of Air Staff. What constitutes the specifics of what the funds would be used for does not fall under my powers.
“My own as the Camp Finance Officer was to take the instructions of my director according to who is to be paid the money and I have executed as such,” the witness stated.
Source: NAN
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