As the trial of a former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex S. Badeh, retd, continues, a prosecution witness, Joseph Okpetu, has disclosed that his company, Havco Nigeria Limited, was paid N100 million to build two churches, a mosque and a civic centre in Badeh’s village.
While being led in evidence by lawyer to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs, Okpetu continued his evidence as PW13.
Okpetu said, “I constructed a village house for the first defendant, Alex Badeh, between 2008 and 2012. The fixings, features and painting were done in 2012. We also built a mosque opposite the house.
“After the construction of the house, a thanksgiving service was held. We [Havco] renovated the church where the thanksgiving took place. My company was also given the responsibility to provide tables and chairs for the thanksgiving.”
He further told the court that between N5 million to N8 million was spent on renovation of the church used for the thanksgiving.
He said, “Apart from the village house, we built a mosque, two churches and a civic centre for skills acquisition in Bintin Village. All these cost N100 million. I was paid in three installments of N40 million, N30 million and N30 million.”
Explaining further, the witness said his firm received N14 million for building a house for the officer-in-charge of the Joint Armed Forces in Mubi, Adamawa State.
He also said he was in charge of the importation of the materials, plants and equipment for Badeh’s Kantiye Farm in Nassarawa State.
He explained, “I do not know Iyalikam, but I was paid from Iyalikam Nigeria Limited the sum of N30million in 2015.
“Before 2015, the share structure of my company, Dilplast Nigeria Limited, was four million shares to me, three million shares to Alex Badeh [Jnr] and three million shares to Kamtufa Badeh.
“Now, I own six million shares, while Kamtufa Badeh owns three million and Victoria Okpetu and Architect Dan Williams own 500,000 shares each.”
The matter was adjourned to January 25 and 26, 2017 for continuation of trial.
The ex-Defence Chief is being tried by the EFCC before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja on a 10-count charge bordering on money laundering, criminal breach of trust and corruption.
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