Eniola Akinkuotu, Abuja

AN1.1bn mansion seized from the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh (retd.), has been converted to an office to be used by the Federal Government, The PUNCH has learnt.

Our correspondent, who visited the property located on Plot 6 Ogun River Crescent, Maitama, a highbrow area in Abuja, learnt that the property is being used by the Presidential Committee on the North-East Intervention headed by Lt.-Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, a former Minister of Defence.

Our correspondent observed that the warning, ‘EFCC, Keep Off!’ which was written in red ink on the fence, had been wiped off.

However, a second building (although uncompleted) seized from Badeh, which is located directly opposite the one converted by the Federal Government, still has the EFCC inscription on its fence.

Some gardeners and other domestic workers were seen clearing the grass and sweeping the compound when our correspondent visited the place.

Our reporter, who entered into the main building, noticed that the rooms had been converted into offices while desks had been set up at strategic positions.

When our correspondent approached one of the workers, he said, “The property was given to us by the government to work. I know that the EFCC seized the property some months ago but it was given to us to work.”

The EFCC is prosecuting Badeh alongside a firm, Iyalikam Nigeria Limited, on 10 counts of money laundering bordering on alleged fraudulent removal of about N3.97bn from the Nigerian Air Force account.

A former Director of Finance and Account of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Aliyu Yishau (retd.),who is a prosecution witness against Badeh, had informed the court that while Badeh was the Chief of Air Staff, he routinely helped Badeh to divert the sum of N558.2m by converting it to its dollar equivalent.

He said he personally helped Badeh to buy the N1.1bn property which has now been converted to Federal Government’s use.

He had said, “Sometime in January 2013, when I was taking the normal amount to him (Badeh) in dollars, he directed that we should pay for the house. So, he brought out the balance in dollars and made up the equivalent of N1.1bn.”

The EFCC lawyer, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), had told the court that the EFCC searched the property and recovered $1m in cash.

Jacobs said although Badeh had denied ownership of the property, his belongings, including photographs, were found in it during a search by the operatives of the commission.

Our correspondent learnt that the decision to convert Badeh’s property may be connected to the Federal Government’s plan to convert seized properties to government use and save cost.

It will be recalled that the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, had disclosed at the opening of a meeting with the members of the National Steering Committee of the Efficiency Unit on June 10, 2016, that the Muhammadu Buhari-led government was planning to convert some of the seized properties to offices in a bid to save money spent on rent.

http://punchng.com/arms-scam-fg-converts-badehs-n1-1bn-mansion-office/

What Nonsense?

It will be recalled that the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, had disclosed at the opening of a meeting with the members of the National Steering Committee of the Efficiency Unit on June 10, 2016, that the Muhammadu Buhari-led government was planning to convert some of the seized properties to offices in a bid to save money spent on rent.

better

All dis money can b used only in dis world we can't take to after life fear God

Me likey, better than to keep it wasting away...

Yet some wailing bigots will keep saying our baba at the top is not working. Tell me did this happened in the last 16yrs? but now its happening.
God bless President Muhammadu Buhari

Those in public offices, your punishment will be greater than during the day of judgment

castrokins:
What Nonsense?

Just what your one liner is.... Nonsense it is!! What is wrong with this? You lots are just tiring!!


Words to ridicule the government failed you since there is no way in hell that you could ever fault this stellar move.... even the bottom barrel wailers won't have nothing to wail about concerning this story....

N1.1bn only one person mansion, people no dey fear God I swear..

The blood of the innocent soldiers that perished for lack of weapons are on Badeh's hands

I support the motives. Is to be used for northeast development not presidential gala arena.

My problem is why is Alex Badeh a free man? I saw him at the airforce headquarters like 2 weeks ago feeling like a don with the people there bowing and hailing him. This is the same criminal that stole most of their money. Why aren't these people in jail?

blackpanda:
The blood of the innocent soldiers that perished for lack of weapons are on Badeh's hands

He is still roaming around a free man. Why is that so?

dalaman:


He is still roaming around a free man. Why is that so?

The case is ongoing. Hes not free

Nice One FG

They should also convert his house to IDP camp too.

Saving cost by all means necessary

It's like wailers are yet to wake, lazy smelling wailers, let them come and tell me how this is a bad thing

Feel like punching that fat face. These guys are nothing less than animals with primordial instincts guiding every action they take- only thing that makes them appear human is that they don't walk around naked and can easily read and write.

I repeat that those who are waiting for Buhari to fails will eat their own words like Olisa Metuh chewed his own statement

Buhari is a man with a large heart,of a few words,sieving ears and straight eyes. Above all he loves caricatures so he is undaunted by senseless wailing & senile abuse.

No matter the level of hatred you have for PMB, you can't deny the fact he is giving bloodied nose to corruption and insurgency. Recovery of any sort was a dream just a couple of years ago.

Kudos to the president.

I stand with pmb

Abeg where dasuki house dey?

I go like work for that house abi office.

This is only the beginning.


Nedal was here!

tellwisdom:
Abeg any space for beer parlor dey there?

Hahah, e go dey. You no see the former CDS belle.

.

Good development, only those that acquired Properties through their hard-earned money should be allowed to enjoy them.