How EFCC found $1m in ex-CDS Badeh’s house

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has discovered $1 million cash in one of the Abuja houses of the former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh.

The raw cash was reportedly found in one of the rooms of his mansion at 6, Ogun River Street, Maitama, Abuja.

This is coming on the heels of denials by Badeh that he had nothing to do with the arms procurement scam for which $2.1 billion was allegedly budgeted for the procurement of arms to fight insurgency in the country, but squandered.

Sources at the anti-graft commission said that Badeh’s neighbours were called in to witness the search and that they bore witness to the discovery of the money stashed in one of the bedrooms in the mansion.

He said, “When we searched his mansion at 6, Ogun River Street in Maitama District in Abuja, $1million raw cash was found in one of the rooms.

“Our operatives made sure that the search of the house was conducted in the presence of Badeh’s neighbours who can attest to the discovery. We ensured that these neighbours witnessed our operation.”

According to him, “Badeh has a case to answer on diversion of funds voted for arms procurement. I cannot tell you whether or not he will face separate charges on the $1million.”

The property, which is said to be worth over N1.1bn, is one of five properties allegedly belonging to the ex-defence chief, which have been seized by the anti-graft agency.

Some of the properties were said to have been purchased, renovated and furnished for a son of the former CDS, Alex Badeh (Jnr.).

The former air force chief also allegedly bought a commercial plot of land at Plot 1386, Oda Crescent, Cadastral Zone A07, Wuse II, Abuja for N650m.

He was said to have paid N878m for the construction of a shopping mall at Plot 1386, Oda Crescent, Cadastral Zone A07, Wuse II, Abuja, and another sum of N304m to complete the construction.

Read also: Badeh faces trial, says I’m being persecuted

The anti-graft agency also accused them of paying N260m to purchase a duplex at No. 19 Kumasi Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja, for Badeh’s son.

The sum of N60m was said to have been paid for the renovation of the property and another N90m to furnish the property.

The retired Air Force officer also allegedly paid N330m to one Honourable Bature to purchase a duplex at No. 14 Adzope Crescent, Off Kumasi Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja.

They were also accused of paying N240m to Rabiu Isyaku Rabiu to buy a semi-detached duplex at No. 8A Embu Street, by Sigma Apartment, Wuse II, Abuja.

They also allegedly renovated a private property at No. 2, Nelson Mandela Street, Asokoro, Abuja, with N62m.

In the charges, signed by EFCC’s Deputy Director, Legal and Prosecution Department, Aliyu Yusuf, the anti-graft agency alleged that Badeh removed the sum of N3.9bn from the accounts of the Nigerian Air Force.

Badeh who is to appear in court today, in a statement he personally signed, had said: “It has been widely reported in the news that I am being investigated over the $2.1 billion arms deals but that is not true.  I was not part of Dasukigate.

“The claim that five properties were acquired for me from the $2.1billion funds is also false.”

 

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