The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) may arraign former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh (rtd) in Abuja today.
A top source who confided in The Guardian last night said “he would be flown in from Lagos to face the court..
Badeh has been in custody of the EFCC since February 8 when he reported for interrogation. He was later flown to Lagos in connection with a case relating to former NIMASA boss, Patrick Akpobolokemi.
Badeh was originally invited by the commission to give explanations regarding some contract issues at the Nigeria Air Force. He was the first on the list of persons forwarded to the EFCC for investigation by President Muhammadu Buhari on January 15.
Still in custody is another former service chief, Air Mashal Adeshola Amosu. There is no information yet about when Amosu would be arraigned.
Commission’s spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, could not be reached for comments as calls placed to his phone line rang out unanswered.
A Presidential order of January 15 had referred Badeh for investigation by the EFCC. He, along with 20 others are meant to answer questions concerning how 10 contracts totaling $930,500,690.00 were awarded, Payment of N4,402,687,569.41 for unexecuted contracts, Procurement of two used Mi-24V helicopters instead of the recommended Mi-35M series at $136,944,000.00, four used Alpha-Jets for the NAF at $7,180,000.00 funded by ONSA, Cannibalisation of engines from NAF fleet to justify procurement of jets and Excessive pricing of 36D6 Low Level Air Defence Radar at $33m instead of $6m per one.
Others areas of investigation are delivery of radars without vital component of Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) that distinguishes between own and adversary aircraft, Transfer of $2m to Mono Marine Corporation Nigeria Limited owned by some Air Force officers, N15 billion lavished on the maintenance of Alpha-Jets, C-130H aircraft and Mi-24V/35P helicopters, N2.5 billion contracts awarded to Syrius Technologies (Ukrainian company) not registered in Nigeria and Award of seven contracts at N599,118,000.00 to Defence Industry Corporation of Nigeria(DICON), whereas only two were delivered.
Post a Comment