Former Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh, has been granted bail in the sum of N2 billion.
Judge Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja, who granted Badeh’s bail application on Thursday, ruled that the former defence chief must present two Abuja-based sureties with N1 billion each, in addition to surrendering his international passport.
The retired Air Chief Marshal is facing corruption charges after he was accused by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, of receiving N3.9 billion as part of $2.1 billion arms money allegedly diverted by former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.
He denies the allegation.
On Thursday, the EFCC said it recovered $1 million from Mr. Badeh’s mansion in Abuja, a claim he strongly denied.
Counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs, said the money was found in one of the properties confiscated from Mr. Badeh.
But the former defence chief’s lawyer, Samuel Zibiri, said the claim was to seek “media hype”.
“My lord, he should argue his case on bail application and avoid undue media hype. This is an allegation and the applicant has said no $1 million was found in his house”, he stated.
Zibiri insisted that his client would not jump bail, and should be granted bail without conditions, following from the example of former Interior Minister, Abba Moro.
He further argued that the condition of the Kuje prison where his client was remanded, was unfavourable.
The EFCC lawyer, Mr. Jacobs, argued against bail for Mr. Badeh, saying a strong case had been established against him.
He referred the court to pages 76 and 99 of the proof of evidence before it, saying the pages show how Mr. Badeh instructed the director of finance of the Nigerian Air Force to convert public funds to dollars for use in purchasing a property for him (Badeh).
“My lord, the first property was bought for at N1.4 billion and the finance director paid for it”, Mr. Jacobs said.
“$1 million was recovered from the property; we will tender it as evidence”, he added.
The prosecuting counsel said it was likely for Mr. Badeh to jump bail in view of the evidences against him, adding that the former CDS had not met conditions for bail on health grounds.
However, Justice Abang overruled the argument and granted bail to Mr. Badeh.
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