Badeh’s trial: I was not instructed to transfer money from NAF account – Witness

– Salisu Abdullahi, a witness in the ongoing trial of Alex Badeh has been accused of giving different statement

– The defence counsel, Akin Olujimi said his evidence before the court is different from his statement before the EFCC

– The witness told the court that Badeh did not instruct him to transfer money from NAF account for the payment of a property in Abuja

A witness in the ongoing trial of former chief of defense staff, Alex Badeh on Tuesday, April 19, told the court that he was not directed to transfer money from the account of the Nigerian Air Force.

Salisu Abdullahi, a retired air commodore said the former defense chief did not instruct him to transfer money from NAF account for the payment of a property in Wuse 2 area of Abuja.

He said that the property was being developed to a shopping complex by one engineer Mustapha Yerima.

Abdullahi told the court that one group captain, Simi was expected to pay the balance for the property.

“I was aware that N558 million was there and he (Simi) was supposed to pay from there but he transferred the money in naira to the account of engineer Mustapha.

READ ALSO: How Alex Badeh converted air force money

“I did not ask group captain Simi to transfer the money from the account of NAF.

“The first defendant did not instruct me to transfer money from NAF account, I was not instructed to transfer money from NAF account,” Abdullahi said.

To this the defense counsel, Akin Olujimi told the witness that the evidence before the court in regard to the construction of the complex is different from his statement before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

But in his defense, the witness said: “The statement was given before I knew that the money was transferred in naira instead of paying in dollars.”

Again the defense counsel added: “In that statement you said that the money for the development of the shopping complex was paid at once in US dollars.”

Abdullahi also reiterated: “I cannot remember adding at once, if I did, it must have been in error.”

Olujimi said the witness had also begged the engineer in charge of the development of the property to protect his interest in the matter.

“You went further to ask engineer Yerima to claim ownership of the shopping complex… you also told him to protect you?” Olujimi asked the witness.

“No, I did not my lord. I have never asked engineer Mustapha to claim ownership of the shopping complex. Statements I made at the EFCC were based on questions put to me by the EFCC operatives,” Adullahi replied.

READ ALSO: Badeh’s trial: I’ve no evidence – Witness tells court

He also said he never informed the EFCC that he knew more than the commission inquired.

Badeh is being prosecuted by the EFCC, alongside a firm, Iyalikam Nigeria Limited, on 10-count charge of money laundering bordering on alleged fraudulent removal of about N3.97 billion from NAF’s account.

Last week, bduallahi had told the court that through the orders of Badeh, one of the officials of NAF converts N558,000 monthly for the former defense chief.

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