Badeh faces trial, says I’m being persecuted

The immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh, who is facing today, has broken his silence over his continued detention by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, claiming that he has nothing to do with the alleged $2.1 billion arms procurement fund scandal. He also claimed his being persecuted.

The former CDS is being arraigned before an Abuja High Court on a 10-count charge ranging from misappropriation of N1.1bn meant for the Nigeria Airforce. He is also being accused of spending of NAF funds to build a shopping mall worth N878,362,732.94, N650 million for the purchase of a commercial plot of land and $2 million on a duplex in Abuja.

However, Badeh, in a statement he released on Thursday, said he did not partake in the Dasukigate scandal neither did he acquire any property from the alleged arms procurement money.

The statement reads in part: “It has been widely reported in the news that I am being investigated over the $2.1 Billion Arms deal but that is not true. I was not part of Dasuki gate.The claim that 5 properties were acquired for me from the $2.1billion funds is also false.

“I was Chief of Air staff from Oct 2012 to January 2014 and then appointed CDS. During my time serving as the CDS, funds for weapons were directly released to the Chief of Air staff, army staff and naval staff and not to me. I had no control over the funds and yet I am being accused of embezzling weapons funds.‎The office of the CDS had no operational control of the services and had nothing to do with their spending. The EFCC’s claim that I received $800,000 from my Director of Finance and accounts is untrue. I did not receive such money from the erstwhile DFA. If he claims to have given me money, where is the proof? Was it paid into my account? Did I sign for it?”

Read also: EFCC slams 10-count charge on Alex Badeh

On the properties allegedly traced to him, Badeh challenged the authorities to apply for a forfeiture order if they are sure he illegally acquired any property.

“On the case of the properties, if they claim the properties are mine and were obtained illegally through proxies then they should go to the court and get an order of forfeiture rather than trying to insist I am the owner of the properties. It is unfortunate that the media has unwittingly allowed itself to be used by interested parties to become judge jury and executioner in my case. Even when they claimed Billions were found in accounts of wives of some past Air Force officers, none was found with my family yet EFCC keeps generalizing and making it look like my family is involved too. It is rather unfortunate that the nation which I fought so hard within my means to defend against Boko Haram insurgents cannot guarantee my fundamental human rights”.

Lementing his current ordeal, Badeh, who claimed he fought hard to regain lost territorries and pushed back the Boko Haram insurgents during his time as CDS, said he lost his personal house and hospital that he built several years ago to the insurgency only to be fighting now for his own freedom.

“I reported to the EFCC when I was invited and would report anytime I am needed. All I ask for is to be given a fair hearing with the rule of law strictly adhered to.

“It is a media trial and I am being persecuted”, Badeh lamented.

RipplesNigeria …without borders, without fears

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now