Finally, Badeh secures bail, at N2bn

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday, granted bail to the ‎former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh (retd),‎ in the tune of N2billion.

Alex Badeh was dragged to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over alleged looting of about N3.9 billion from the accounts of the Nigerian Air Force.

Trial judge, Justice Okon Abang, I his ruling, said he was minded to ‎exercise his discretion in favour of the erstwhile military chief who has been in custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, since February 8. He also added that an accused person is presumed innocent until found guilty according to Section 36{5} of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

‎Justice Abang subsequently granted Badeh bail to the tune of N2bn with two sureties who are to deposit N1bn each. The court also ruled that the sureties must not only be resident in Abuja‎, but must own landed properties in the Federal Capital Territory with valid Certificate of Occupancy. ‎

The judge further ruled that the Chief Registrar of the court must authenticate the ownership and value of the properties. He further directed that upon being put on notice by the defendant, the EFCC should within 24 hours, Independently ascertain the residence of the sureties, as well as their ownership and value of the landed properties.

The sureties, Justice Abang further ordered, must provide their three years tax clearance certificate, deposit the original title documents of the properties, and also depose to an affidavit of means. They must also submit two recent passport photographs to the court and also produce convincing evidence that they have the means to pay the total sum contained in the charge, if the defendant happens to jump bail.

Read also: Big lie! $1m was not found in my house –Badeh

Badeh was also ordered surrender his international passport to the Chief Registrar of the court.‎

The ‎EFCC had opposed the bail application as the prosecution counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs, gave reasons Badeh should remain behind bars, revealing that EFCC operatives found cash sum of $1million in his bedroom and insisting that the $1million was part of the funds the defendant fraudulently diverted from the coffers of the Nigerian Air Force in 2013.

According to Jacobs, Badeh purchased the building where the money was found with $1.1billion, adding that after the money was found, the ex-CDS profusely denied ownership of the property only for the operatives that conducted the search to discover his personal belongings, including his photographs in the house.

Badeh had anchored his bail request on ‎provisions of sections 35 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, as well as sections 156, 162 and 165 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015. He also pleaded with the court to grant him the bail on self-recognition.

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