Arms Deal: EFCC moves ex-CDS Alex Badeh to Lagos, Col. Ojogbane Adegbe still in custody.

Badeh, who has been in the custody of the anti-graft agency since February 8, is being questioned in connection with arms contracts totalling $930.5m, which were allegedly awarded under his leadership.

The money is said to be part of the $2.1bn meant for arms purchase, which was under the control of the Office of the National Security Adviser, headed then by Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.).

Badeh is also said to be answering questions on the non-specification of procurement costs, absence of contract agreements, award of contracts beyond authorised thresholds, transfer of public funds for unidentified purposes and general non-adherence to provisions of the Public Procurement Act.

A reliable source said Badeh’s movement to Lagos was to identify some properties or business that might belong to him.

He explained that under the law, the EFCC could invoke the Assets Forfeiture clause to seize the properties of those who allegedly diverted or misappropriated funds meant for arms procurement in line with sections 28 and 34 of the EFCC (Establishment Act) 2004 and Section 13(1) of the Federal High Court Act, 2004.

The detective added, “We are trying to trace houses that belong to some of the military chiefs. Apart from checking their bank accounts, we want to find out if part of the money for arms procurement was spent on those houses.

“Based on the outcome of our investigations, Badeh may be charged to a Lagos High Court instead of Abuja.”

Two weeks ago, the commission seized houses said to be worth over N5bn, belonging to some Nigerian Air Force officials.

The houses, which were seized in the Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Ikeja and Badagry areas of Lagos State, allegedly belong to the immediate past Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu (retd.); the immediate past Chief of Accounts and Budgeting of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice-Marshal J. B. Adigun; and Air Commodore O. O. Gbadebo, who was the Director of Finance and Budget at NAF.

 

Col. Ojogbane Adegbe

In a related development, the EFCC said it had obtained a remand order to keep Col. Ojogbane Adegbe, the Aide-de-Camp to former President Goodluck Jonathan in detention pending investigations.

A reliable source in the EFCC told our correspondent on Wednesday that with the remand order, Adegbe could remain in custody for the next 20 days.

The ex-president’s ADC has meanwhile denied media reports that he said Nigeria would burn if he revealed what happened under the Jonathan’s administration.

In a letter written by his lawyer, Chief Ogwu Onoja (SAN), Adegbe said he would sue the newspaper which carried the story which he described as false.