The late Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh, has lost six properties to the Federal Government and $1 million recovered from 6, Ogun River Street, off Danube Street, Maitama, Abuja through a plea bargain agreement entered into with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
This followed a judgment delivered by Justice Okon Abang at the Federal High Court, Abuja on Monday in a further amended charge brought by the EFCC, where Badeh’s company was made the defendant following his demise.
The judge held that in view of the plea bargain agreement, the defendant was guilty as charged.
Bang held: “I have before me a plea bargain agreement duly executed by Iyalikam Nigeria Limited and the EFCC.
“I hereby find the defendant guilty and accordingly convict the defendant of the 10-counts further amended charge.
“Having regards to the plea bargain agreement duly executed by the parties, Iyalikam Nigeria Limited is hereby wound up and the judgment shall be served on the Corporate Affairs Commission for execution.”
Justice Abang also ordered forfeiture of a mansion situated at 6 Ogun River Street, off Danube Street, Maitama Abuja; shopping mall situated at Plot 1386, Oda Crescent, Cadastral Zone, Wuse II Abuja; and duplex located at 19, Kumasi Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja.
Others are a duplex at 14, Adzope Crescent, off Kumasi Cresent, Wuse II, Abuja; semi-detached duplex at 8A, Embu Street, by Sigma Apartments Wuse II, Abuja; and $1 million recovered from 6, Ogun River Street, off Danube Street, Maitama, Abuja.
The judge further ordered that in view of the fact that the first defendant (Badeh) was reported dead, all processes against him were hereby terminated.
At the resumed trial, the prosecuting counsel, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, said the business of the day was for the second defendant to open defence since the first defendant (Badeh) was now deceased.
Atolagbe, however, informed the court that in view of an agreement reached between the prosecution and the defence, a further amended charge of 10 counts had been filed as well as a plea bargain agreement.
He said: “My lord, there is a development.
“The prosecution met with the defence and we have been able to reach an agreement.
“We filed a further amended charge dated March 1 and filed March 4 and we also filed a plea bargain agreement with regards to provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.”
Atolagbe asked that the new charge be read in open court and in view of the plea bargain agreement, a guilty plea be entered for the defendant (Iyalikam Nigeria Limited) by the court.
Following the reading of the 10 count amended charge and the plea of guilty entered for the defendant by the court, the lawyer prayed the court to enter judgment based on the plea bargain agreement.
He said: “For the avoidance of doubt, we ask that the court should order, as part of the sentence, the final forfeiture of all the properties affected in counts one to 10 in the further amended charge as reflected in the plea bargain agreement.
“We further pray that the defendant be convicted and wound up based on the plea bargain agreement and Section 19 of the Money Laundering Act.”
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that until his death, Badeh was standing trial on charges of alleged abuse of office, money laundering and converting public money to personal use to the tune N3.9 billion.
He was arraigned along with his company on a 14-count charge bordering on fraud, to which he entered a “not guilty” plea to all counts.
The diverted money was said to have been meant for arms purchase in the face of worsening destructions by Boko Haram terrorists.