How Badeh defrauded Air Force of N3.7b – Ex-DFA

A former Director of Finance and accounts of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Salisu Abdullahi Yushua (rtd), on Wednesday told Justice Okon Abang of a Federal High court how a former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, defrauded the Nigerian Airforce of N3.7 billion.
The retired military officer, who gave evidence during the trial of the former CDS,‎ said Badeh committed the offence between 2012 and 2014 when he was the Chief of Air Staff.
Yushau told the court that the Nigerian Air Force is funded through budgetary allocation under capital, overhead and personal monument sub-heads‎.
He told the court that the amount budgeted and approved for NAF each year varies, but it receives a little above N4 billion monthly for personal emolument only.
He said: “We usually receive a little above N4 billion monthly for personal emolument.
“However, our to‎tal wage bill as at that time was over N2 billion, including salaries and allowances.
“After salaries and allowances are paid, we usually have a balance of about N1.6 billion or N1.7 billion monthly.
“Out of the amount, the sum of N558 million is usually earmarked for Chief of Air staff control, while the balance is disbursed to Commands and Directorate Unit for priority projects and training.”
Yushau said the former CDS instructed that the N558 million‎ should be changed into dollar denomination and he in turn directed the finance officer to convert it into dollars.
He however told the court that he had no written instruction because it was a verbal instruction.
Baden was in office for 18 months as the CAS.
He was CAS from October 2012 to April 2014.
At N558 million per month, what would have accused to Badeh would be N10.044 billion.
Yushua further told the court that every month he and the finance officer take the N558 million in dollars to Badeh’s residence at Niger Barracks.
Yushua said in January 2013, Badeh told him that he wanted to buy a house and he made inquiry and got a house on Ogun Street, Maitama through a friend.
According to his evidence, Badeh inspected the house and paid N1.1 billion‎ to purchase it.
He said: “He directed that we should pay for the house after negotiation was completed.
“He brought the balance to make up N1.1 billion and I gave the money to Barrister Hussein Umar, who sold the house on behalf of the owner.”
According to the witness, when Umar asked in whose name should the house document be prepared, he said it should be prepared in the name of Iyalikan Nigeria Limited, a company in which the EFCC said Badeh has interest.
The witness continued: “Sometimes in 2013, Badeh also approached me that he needed a plot and an engineer was brought, who sighted plot 1386 Oda Crescent, Wuse 2, which was later paid for at the cost of N650 million after being satisfied.”
Yushua explained that during the period, the monthly N558 million he brought to Badeh was immediately used to purchase the plot‎.
The trial continues on March 23, 2016.