‘Badeh, a victim of state persecution’

Citiens Watch Nigeria (CWN), a civil society group has alleged that the former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Alex Badeh, is a victim of state persecution, urging the Federal Government to ensure that he gets a fair trial.

Badeh is facing a 10-count charge at the Federal High Court, Abuja, over alleged corrupt enrichment preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

In a statement endorsed by its Executive Secretary, Kenneth Aigbegbele, the group said it believes that Badeh is being tried because he is the only four-star General from the northern Christian minority.

“Badeh is being persecuted because of his place of birth and Christian faith and coincidence of the status he attained in Nigeria Air Force,” the group alleged.

CWN stated that it arrived at the conclusion because Badeh’s predecessor, Air Marshal Dikko Umar, was not incarcerated in any prison custody and was given soft landing through soft bail conditions granted by Justice Binta Nyako.

CWN said the two principal witnesses in Badeh’s trial had made contradictory statements already.