BREAKING NEWS, Politics
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ALEX Badeh, retired air chief marshal and Nigeria’s former defence chief, has denied allegations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, that he was involved in stealing money meant for purchase of arms, describing his current detention by the anti-graft agency as “persecution.”
Badeh, who has been detained by the EFCC since February 9, said in a statement Thursday, March 3, that he was being subjected to “media trial” for no just cause.
The former defence chief said despite his repeated assurances to the EFCC that he would fully cooperate with any investigations, he was being treated unfairly and his rights were violated by a country he fought so hard to defend against Boko Haram.
His statement said in part: “It has been widely reported in the news that I am being investigated over the $2.1 Billion Arms deal but that is not true. I was not part of Dasuki gate.
“The claim that 5 (five) properties were acquired for me from the $2.1billion funds is also false.
“I was chief of Air Staff from Oct 2012 to January 2014 and then appointed the CDS. During my time serving as the CDS, funds for weapons were directly released to the chief of Air staff, army staff and naval staff and not to me. I had no control over the funds and yet I am being accused of embezzling weapons funds.
“The office of the CDS had no operational control of the services and had nothing to do with their spending.
“The EFCC’s claim that I received $800,000 from my director of Finance and accounts is untrue. I did not receive such money from the erstwhile DFA. If he claims to have given me money, where is the proof? Was it paid into my account? Did I sign for it?
“In the case of the properties, if they claim the properties are mine and were obtained illegally through proxies then they should go to the court and get an order of forfeiture rather than trying to insist I am the owner of the properties.
“It is unfortunate that the media has unwittingly allowed itself to be used by interested parties to become judge jury and executioner in my case.
“Even when they claimed Billions were found in accounts of wives of some past Air Force officers, none was found with my family yet EFCC keeps generalizing and making it look like my family is involved too.
“It is rather unfortunate that the nation which I fought so hard within my means to defend against Boko Haram insurgents cannot guarantee my fundamental human rights.”
— Mar 3, 2016 @ 13:45 GMT
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