EFCC asked me to indict Badeh — Witness

A prosecution witness yesterday said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) asked him to change his statement on the source of the money used in building houses for the former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh.

Badeh is standing trial before a Federal High Court in Abuja on a 10-count charge of criminal breach of trust and money laundering of over N3billion alongside Iyalikam Nigeria Ltd, a company believed to be owned by him.

While being cross examined by defence counsel Akin Olujimi (SAN), Joseph Okpetu, a builder, who earlier said he did not know the source of the N100m for the Vimtim projects, admitted that it was paid by Mafosa Mafosa, a committee of friends of Badeh.

But EFCC counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) in his re-examination, sought to clarify if the witness really wanted to state that he did not know the source of the money, he said he was made to change that position by the interrogators.

“I wanted to write that the N50 million paid into my account, I did not know the source, but the interrogators told me that the money was from Nigeria Air Force account. So I cancelled my earlier statement,” he said.

He testified that he was awarded the contract to renovate two churches for Badeh in Vimtim, Adamawa State during the community’s thanksgiving service in 2013. He also said he received N100m to build a civic centre for the community and a new mosque in front of Badeh’s house. The trial continues today.