EFCC Raids Alex Badeh’s Home

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday Feb. 9th, raided the home of former Chief of Defence Staff Alex Badeh. Badeh is being investigated for his alleged involvement in the $2.1 billion arms deal fraud.

A source at the anti-graft agency who spoke with The Nation about the new development said: “After interacting with the ex-CDS for 24 hours, it became important to search his residence for some vital documents. We acted on intelligence report at our disposal. After the search, we made necessary documentation of the items retrieved from the place. Such a search is routine when conducting a sensitive investigation like this”.

Asides Alex Badeh, other military chiefs being interrogated are  former Chief of Air Staff, A.N. Amosu; ex- Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal M.D. Umar;  ex-National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki ; Col. N. Ashinze , who was the Special Military Assistant to the ex-NSA; and the most senior Air Force officer, and AVM A. M. Mamu (the Chief of Administration).

Others are  AVM O.T. Oguntoyinbo (former Director of Production, Defence Headquarters);  AVM R.A. Ojuawo (Air Officer Tactical Air Command, Makurdi;  AVM J.B. Adigun(former Chief of Accounts and Budgeting in NAF); and AVM JA Kayode-Beckley(Director, Armament Research in Air Force Research and Development Centre); AVM T Omenyi (MD, NAF Holdings)four top officers at the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), Air Cdre AO Ogunjobi; Air Cdre GMD Gwani; Air Cdre SO Makinde; and Air Cdre AY Lassa.

Some of the areas of investigation are as follows:

How 10 contracts totalling $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.
4 used Alpha-Jets for the NAF at US$7,180,000.00 funded by ONSA
Cannibalization of engines from NAF fleet to justify procurement of jets
Excessive pricing of 36D6 Low Level Air Defence Radar at $33m instead of $6m per one

Delivery of radars without  vital component of Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) that distinguishes between own and adversary aircraft
Strange transfer of $2m to Mono Marine Corporation Nigeria Limited owned by some Air Force officers

N15bn lavished on the maintenance of its Alpha-Jets, C-130H aircraft and Mi-24V/35P helicopters.

N2.5billion contracts awarded to Syrius Technologies( Ukrainian company) not registered in Nigeria

Award of 7 contracts worth N599,118,000.00 contracts to Defence Industry Corporation of Nigeria(DICON) but two delivered.