•Begins trial tomorrow
From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed additional evidence against former Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh (rtd) who is still being held at the Kuje prison following his inability to fulfill his bail conditions.
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday last week granted him bail in the sum of N2 billion with stringent conditions.
Justice Okon Abang, who granted bail to the former military brass, ordered that he should produce two sureties in the sum of N1billion each who must be residents of the Federal Capital Territory with landed properties in Abuja worth N1billion.
Meanwhile, the ex-military chief has hired a former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Akin Olujinmi (SAN) to defend him in the 10-count charge of criminal breach of trust and corruption to the tune of N3.9billion slammed against him.
Badeh is alleged to have used funds of the Nigeria Air Force to purchase choice property in Abuja.
According to the EFCC, Badeh illegally used N60million to renovate his son’s house, which he purchased for N260million in Abuja, between January and December, 2013.
He is also alleged to have used N878 million being funds of the Air Force to build a shopping mall in Abuja.
When the matter came up for trial yesterday, Badeh’s new counsel, Olujinmi informed the court that the prosecution filed an additional proof of evidence late Friday and prayed for time to study it and prepare his defence.
Olujinmi also told the court that he had not been properly briefed by his client who is still in Kuje Prison due to the fact that he is yet to meet the bail condition the court earlier granted him.
“It is on record that Badeh is still in Kuje Prison even though the court had granted him bail and the process of carrying out that order has not been completed yet and he is yet to brief me on the matter. Heaven will not fall if the court adjouns the matter,” Olujinmi said.
The prosecution led by Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) urged the court to dismiss the application for adjournment and continue with the trial as earlier scheduled on the ground that the defence counsel has the privilege to go to the prisons for his briefing with the accused person.
Justice Abang adjourned the matter till March 16 following an application by the defence counsel, who informed the court that the defence was served late with additional proof of evidence and he is yet to study and digest it.
Quoting section 392, Abang held that the defendant required ample time to study the additional proof of evidence.
Abang consequently adjourned till tomorrow for commencement of trial.