CASE NUMBER 10900:

BADEH FORFEITS PROPERTIES FROM THE GRAVE

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Alleged Perpetrators(s)

Marshall Alex Badeh Iyalikam Nigeria Limited

Location (Town / State)

Abuja, Nationwide

Date of Event

04 Mar 2019

Date of republication

04 March every year

Case category (Choose all that apply)

Case Summary

The ex-Chief of Defence staff Marshall Alex Badeh who was killed by armed bandits in 2018 has posthumously forfeited some of his properties and illegal wealth to the government following an investigation by the EFCC.

Full story

Late Marshall Alex Badeh was the Chief of Defence Staff from January 16, 2014 – July 13, 2015. Prior to that, he was Commander of the Presidential fleet during the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo presidency from 2002 – 2004, and was responsible for shuttling top VIP personalities, dignitaries, and Heads of governments.

Alex Badeh then served as Chief of Air Staff from October 2012 – April 2014, where he championed the move to optimize local engineering and develop Indigenous Unarmed Aerial vehicle (UAV) and other weaponry.He encouraged research and development programs during his tenure as Chief of Air Staff. In 2014, Alex Badeh was appointed as Chief of Defence Staff by the Jonathan administration, and he held that position until July, 2015 when he retired from the military.

Alex Badeh’s legal tussles started in 2015, when the EFCC, who were engaged in a vindictive witch-hunt of all key players in the Jonathan administration arraigned Badeh on a 10-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, abuse of office and money laundering to the tune of N3.9 billion. The EFCC accused Alex Badeh of stealing money meant for the purchase of arms and ammunitions. He was subsequently detained by the anti-graft agency for three weeks and vigorously questioned. He was being linked to the $2.1 billion Dasuki-gate scandal that was rocking the country, and accused of acquiring 5 luxury properties as his proceeds from the $2.1 Dasukigate scandal.

The EFCC further accused Badeh of receiving $800,00 from the Director of Finance of the Ministry of Defence which was unaccounted for. The EFCC then sought to obtain an order of forfeiture from the Federal High Court, Abuja against six of Badeh’s properties which they claimed were illegally obtained, including five luxury duplexes, a mall and the sum of $1 Million cash which was allegedly recovered from one of the houses.

Upon discovery of fresh evidence, Badeh was re-arraigned together with his company, Iyalikam Nigeria Limited by the anti-graft agency on July 4, 2018 on an amended 14-count charge bordering on money laundering, which he pleaded not guilty to. During the trial, the EFCC called 21 witnesses and tendered documentary evidence in support of its case. The Defence on its part relied on a no-case submission.

While the matter was still pending in court, Alex Badeh was assassinated in an ambush along the Keffi-Abuja highway on the 18th December, 2018. His death did not however halt the EFCC, as the prosecution still urged the court to proceed with a forfeiture order against his illegally obtained wealth and properties.

Justice Abang on the 4th March, 2019, after being informed of the death of Badeh terminated all charges against Badeh, but still gave judgment against the second defendant company, ordering that the company be wound up and its properties be forfeited.

In pursuance to the orders of the court, the EFCC on the 7th July, 2019 handed over one of his properties to the management of Voice of Nigeria. The EFCC on the 8th August, 2019 handed over another property belonging to the late Badeh to the management of North East Development Commission (NEDC).

External links/URLs

https://punchng.com/fg-seeks-final-forfeiture-of-6-houses-1m-allegedly-owned-by-badeh/

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/292242-efcc-closes-case-in-n3-9-billion-charge-against-nigerias-ex-air-force-chief.html

https://www.premiumtimes

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