Former CDS, Alex Badeh, arraigned, remanded in prison

Former Chief of Defence of Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, has been arraigned before a Federal High Court, Abuja on Monday on a 10-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and corruption.

He pleaded not guilty to the allegations but Judge Okon Abang ruled that  Badeh be remanded  in custody until a bail application on Thursday.

The judge said the substantive trial will commence on March 14 and that the court will be sitting on a daily basis.

Badeh was arrested last month by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission about the alleged diversion of N3.97 billion from the Nigeria Air Force in 2013.

The EFCC said Badeh diverted about N 1 billion from the accounts of the Nigerian Air Force to buy a mansion in Abuja.

“Mr. Badeh, while being the CDS, among other things between January and December, 2013, allegedly used dollar equivalent of the sum of N1.4billion (One Billion, One Hundred Million Naira) removed from the accounts of the Nigerian Air Force to purchase a mansion situated at No. 6, Ogun River Street, Off Danube Street, Maitama, Abuja.

“The offence is in contravention of Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act, ” the EFCC said last Thursday.