Nigeria’s former defence chief, Alex Badeh, has
denied allegations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, that he was
involved in stealing money meant for purchase of arms, describing his current
detention by the EFCC as “persecution”.
Mr. Badeh, a former Air Chief Marshal, who has been
detained by the EFCC for more than three weeks, said in a statement Thursday
that he was being subjected to “media trial” for no just cause.
Mr. Badeh said despite his repeated assurances to
the EFCC that he would fully cooperate with any investigations, he was being
treated unfairly and his rights were violated by a country he fought so hard to
defend against Boko Haram.
Read his full statement:
It has been widely reported in the news that I am
being investigated over the $2.1 Billion Arms deal but that is not true. I was
not part of Dasuki gate.
The claim that 5 properties were acquired for me
from the $2.1billion funds is also false.
I was Chief of Air staff from Oct 2012 to January
2014 and then appointed CDS. During my time serving as the CDS, funds for
weapons were directly released to the Chief of Air staff, army staff and naval
staff and not to me. I had no control over the funds and yet I am being accused
of embezzling weapons funds.
The office of the CDS had no operational control of
the services and had nothing to do with their spending.
The EFCC’s claim that I received $800,000 from my
Director of Finance and accounts is untrue. I did not receive such money from
the erstwhile DFA. If he claims to have given me money, where is the proof? Was
it paid into my account? Did I sign for it?
In the case of the properties, if they claim the
properties are mine and were obtained illegally through proxies then they
should go to the court and get an order of forfeiture rather than trying to
insist I am the owner of the properties.
It is unfortunate that the media has unwittingly
allowed itself to be used by interested parties to become judge jury and
executioner in my case.
Even when they claimed Billions were found in
accounts of wives of some past Air Force officers, none was found with my
family yet EFCC keeps generalizing and making it look like my family is
involved too.
It is rather unfortunate that the nation which I
fought so hard within my means to defend against Boko Haram insurgents cannot
guarantee my fundamental human rights.
During my time as the CDS, lives of both soldiers
and civilians were lost. Territories were lost. We fought to regain our
nation’s territorial integrity and the insurgents pushed back.
I LOST MY PERSONAL HOUSE AND HOSPITAL IN DEFENCE OF
MY FATHERLAND (A hospital which I built many years ago and was equally used in
the treatment of injured soldiers).
NOW I AM LOSING MY FREEDOM TO THE SAME
FATHERLAND THAT I FOUGHT SO HARD TO DEFEND
During the 2014 Boko haram attack on my village
Vimtim, it was widely reported in the media that I sent a helicopter to
evacuate my parents and relatives. Which parents? I am an orphan, I lost my
father in the 70’s and my mother in 2013. My cousin, who lived next to me, was
killed during the 2014 attack on my village. So who exactly did I evacuate? It
is unfortunate that I didn’t come out to clarify some of these issues when they
were reported in the media.
I was detained by The EFCC for 3 weeks and was not
charged to court but was given onerous bail conditions by the Commission which
I could not meet. A remand warrant was hastily obtained on the 25th February in
Lagos as soon as The EFCC was served with a notice for my bail hearing in court
by my lawyers. Why detain me for so long and issue such onerous bail conditions
when they aren’t ready to charge me to court?
I reported to the EFCC when I was invited and would
report anytime I am needed. All I ask for is to be given a fair hearing with
the rule of law strictly adhered to.
It is a media trial and I am being persecuted.
Air Chief Marshal A. S. Badeh
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