EX-DEFENCE CHIEF BADEH BOUGHT N1.4BN MASION WITH PUBLIC FUNDS, EFCC CLAIMS

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has accused the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff of Nigeria, Alex Badeh, of using funds assigned to the Nigerian Air Force to purchase
a mansion in Abuja.
The commission said the purchase was done with the dollar equivalent of N1.4 billion.
“Mr. Badeh, while being the CDS, among other things between January and December, 2013, allegedly used dollar equivalent of the sum of N1.4billion (One Billion, One Hundred Million Naira) removed from the accounts of the Nigerian Air Force to purchase a mansion situated at No. 6, Ogun River Street, Off Danube Street, Maitama, Abuja,” the EFCC said in a statement Thursday.
The offence is in contravention of Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act, it said.
The former defence chief denied allegations of corruption against him.
On Thursday, Mr. Badeh, who has been in detention for more than two weeks, accused the EFCC of “persecuting” him and conducting a media trial against him.
Mr. Badeh said he had repeatedly assured of his readiness to cooperate with the investigation, yet was detained for a prolonged time without being arraigned in court.

His arraignment scheduled for Thursday, at the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja could not hold as the presiding judge, Okon E. Abang, was absent.
No reason was given for his absence.
Mr. Badeh, a retired Air Chief Marshal, was to be arraigned on a 10-count charge bordering on money laundering, criminal breach of trust and corruption.
The arraignment has been fixed tentatively for Monday, March 7, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, said.