Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court Monday ordered that former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh, be remanded at the Kuje Maximum Prison, pending the determination of his bail application on Thursday, March 10.
Badeh was arraigned before the judge in Abuja by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged fraud, relating to the diversion of N3.9 billion meant for the purchase of arms for the Nigerian military.
Justice Abang struck out the bail application filed by Badeh’s counsel, Samuel Zibiri, on the grounds that it was filed ahead of his the arraignment.
The judge further ruled that the hearing for Mr. Badeh’s bail would commence on March 10, adding that it was important for the application to be determined before the commencement of trial.
Abang said the trial of the substantive case, billed to commence on March 14, would be on a day to day basis.
The retired defence chief was originally scheduled to be arraigned before Justice Abang on Thursday, March 3 on a 10-count charge bordering on money laundering, criminal breach of trust and corruption, but the case was shifted to March 7 owing to the absence of the judge.
The EFCC is accusing Badeh of using funds assigned to the Nigerian Air Force to purchase choice properties in Abuja.
Badeh was said to have perpetrated the fraud along with Iyalikam Nigeria
The offence is in contravention of Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act, the anti-graft body said.
The former defence chief denied allegations of corruption against him.
On Thursday, Badeh, who has been in detention for about three weeks, accused the EFCC of “persecuting” him and conducting a media trial against him.
