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A prosecution witness on Wednesday told the Federal High Court in Abuja how former chief of defence staff, Alex Badeh allegedly spent the sum of N320million belonging to the Nigerian Air Force to purchase a house in Abuja for his 28-year-old son, Kam.
The witness, retired Air Commodore Aliyu Yishau, said he served as a former director of Finance and Account of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) while Badeh was the chief of air staff (between September 2012 and December 2013).
Yishau made the disclosure as part of his testimony at the ongoing trial of Badeh and a firm, Iyalikam Nigeria Limited. Badeh and the firm were arraigned on March 7, 2016, on a 10-count charge of breach of trust and corruption for allegedly diverting about N3.97bn from NAF’s account.
Yishau, the first prosecution witness, who was later cross-examined by Badeh’s lawyer, Akin Olujinmi (SAN), said the N320m house was the second of such property acquired in Wuse 2, Abuja, by the former Chief of Defence Staff for his children.
He said the first located at No: 19 Kumasi Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja was bought for Badeh’s first son, Alex Badeh (Jnr) at N260m, with N60m spent to renovate it, while N90m was expended in furnishing the property.
Yishau said the second house, which was bought at N320m for Badeh’s last son is located adjacent to the one bought for Badeh’s first son.
When asked how he came about the information, Yishau said he paid for the houses from the N558.2m taken monthly by Badeh from NAF’s funds, and acted as instructed by Badeh.
He said he could not recall how many times he paid the money for the renovation. But admitted that the money was not paid at once.
The witness however told the court that he is not a certified accountant even though he has worked as an accountant for the Air Force for 25 years.
Further hearing in the case has been adjourned to May 9 at 11 am.
Via: The Nation
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