The immediate-past chief of defence staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh told Justice Okon Abang of Federal High Court in Abuja that he is innocent of the charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He also debunked reports that $1m cash was recovered from his house.
Badeh pleaded not guilty to the 10-count charge read to him in court on Monday.
He confidently expressed his desire to stand trial and prove his innocence.
His lawyer, Samuel Zibri (SAN), made an attempt to argue his bail application which the court held was premature in view of the fact that it was filed before the arraignment.
The trial judge, in his ruling held that the motion for the bail of Badeh was not competent because it was filed before his arraignment and the court can only have jurisdiction to hear the application after his arraignment.
Justice Abang subsequently struck out the motion and ordered him to file a fresh bail application.
The former CDS is to be remanded in Kuje prison pending the hearing and determination of his bail application fixed for March 10, 2016.
Justice Abang also said that proper trial of the case will begin on March 14, on a day to day basis in line with the court practice.
He warned that his court will not entertain frivolous adjournments and delays and urged the prosecution to prepare its witnesses adequately.
Badeh’s lawyer in a statement last night said: “Our attention has been drawn to the publication that $1m cash was recovered in the house of air chief marshal A.S Badeh (rtd).
“The said publication is not only malicious but wicked. It is totally false and smacks of media campaign of calumny against the person of air marshal Alex. A Badeh (rtd)
“The 10 count charge against our client along with the proof of evidence in the Federal High Court are public documents and can be accessed by the general public.
“There is no such allegation and we challenge the faceless EFCC official to substantiate his claim.
“The trial has commenced and as a law abiding citizen, our client will defend himself in accordance with the law,” he said.
It would be recalled that the EFCC had filed a 10-count charge before the court against Badeh.
In the charge, bordering on criminal breach of trust and corruption, dated February 26, 2016 and endorsed by Aliyu Yusuf, deputy director, Legal, the EFCC accused the former defence chief of unlawfully using funds meant for the Nigerian Air Force to purchase landed properties in choice areas in Abuja, between January and December 2013, while serving as CAS.
EFCC also said Badeh, while serving as CAS and Iyalikam Nig Ltd, between January and December 2013 did use dollar equivalent of the sum of N1,1bn removed from the accounts of the Nigerian Air Force to purchase for themselves a mansion at Maitama, Abuja.
According to the anti-graft agency, the accused person “reasonably ought to have known that the said funds formed part of the proceeds of unlawful activity (to wit) criminal breach of trust and corruption.’’
Badeh and his company were also accused of removing from the accounts of the NAF, dollar equivalent of N650m to purchase a commercial plot at Plot 1386, Oda Crescent, Cadastral zone Ao7 Wuse ll Abuja.
Moreover, N878,362,732.94 removed from NAF accounts and paid into account of Rytebuilders Technologies Ltd with Zenith Bank Plc for construction of a shopping mall in Plot 1386, Cadastral zone.
It was equally alleged that the defendants removed N304m from the accounts of the NAF and paid it to Rytebuilders for the completion of the shopping mall.
More so, the accused did use N260m removed from the NAF accounts and paid to one Oluwatoyin Oke, through Platinum Universal Project and Construction to purchase for his son, Alex Badeh (Jnr), a duplex at No 19 Kumasi Crescent, Wuse, Abuja.
-Leadership