Admin l Monday, March 04, 2019
ABUJA, Nigeria – Justice Okon Abang of a Federal High Court, Abuja today ordered forfeiture of the property situated at No. 6 Ogun River Street, off Danube Street, Maitama, Abuja, belonging to late Chief of Air Staff, Alex Badeh, and $1 million, recovered from the property to the Federal Government.
Also forfeited, are a shopping mall situated at Plot 1386, Oda Crescent, Cadastral Zone, Wuse II; a duplex located at No. 19, Kumasi Crescent, Wuse II; a duplex located at No. 14 Adzope Crescent, off Kumasi Crescent, Wuse II; a semi-detached duplex at No. 8A Embu Street by Sigma Apartments Wuse II, all in Abuja.
Until his unfortunate death on December 18, 2018, the late Badeh being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, along with his company, Iyalikam Nigeria Limited for charges bordering on abuse of office, money laundering, and converting public funds to personal use amounting to about N3.9 billion.
They were on trial for an amended 14-count charge, to which a “not guilty” plea was taken. Justice Abang had at the last adjourned sitting on February 26, 2019 fixed today, March 4, 2019 for the company to open its defence.
At the resumed sitting, prosecuting counsel, O.A. Atolagbe, informed the court that based on an agreement reached between the prosecution and the defence, there was a further amended charge of 10 counts before the court and a plea bargain agreement.
“We filed a further amended charge dated March 1, which was filed on March 4, and also a plea bargain agreement with regards to provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act,” he said, and asked that the new charges be read in open court.
A “guilty” plea was thereafter, entered for the second defendant, following which Atolagbe, urged to court to enter judgement based on the plea bargain agreement.
