Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High
Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja on Thursday,
October 27th, 2016 admitted another thirteen
exhibits tendered before it by the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in
the ongoing trial of a former Chief of
Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh
(rtd).
Badeh is being prosecuted by the EFCC
alongside his company, Iyalikam Nigeria
Limited, for allegedly abusing his office by
using the dollar equivalent of the sum of
N1.4billion (One Billion, Four Hundred
Million Naira) removed from the accounts of
the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, 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.
Counsel to EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, led
the seventh prosecution witness, PW7,
Oluwatoyin Oke (a business woman); from
whom the first defendant (Badeh) allegedly
bought a choice property in the Wuse 2 area
of Abuja in evidence.
The witness told the court that she used to
own and live in No. 19, Kumasi Crescent,
Wuse 2 Abuja also known as plot 456
Kumasi Crescent Wuse 2, until 2013 when
she sold it for N260million. Oke stated that
after putting the property up for sale, she
was contacted by one Abba Maidama who
informed her of an interested buyer. Upon
inspection of the property, Maidama further
informed her that his client was ready to
commence payment in three installments.
The PW7 told the Court that the first
installment she received was $550,000.00
(five hundred and fifty thousand United
States dollars) which was paid into her
account by the agent. Upon receipt of the
second and third installments of the dollar
equivalent of N260million, Oke stated that
she signed and handed over all the original
documents and title deeds of the property,
including a Power of attorney, Deed of
Assignment and Deed of Sale to Maidama.
Prosecuting counsel now asked the witness
to ascertain copies of the documents which
were shown to her in court; and she did.
Thereafter, the documents were tendered and
marked as exhibits D8 to D20 with no
objection from lead defense counsel, Akin
Olujimi, SAN. Olujimi was called upon to
cross-examine the witness to which he
declined.
Justice Okon Abang, thereafter, adjourned to
the November 2 and 3, 2016 for continuation
of trial.
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