Armsgate: Court Orders Interim Forfeiture Of N263m Linked To Late Alex Badeh’s Associate

Justice I. E. Ekwo of a Federal High Court, Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of the sum of N263, 000, 000 (Two Hundred and Sixty Three Million Naira) recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, from one of the prosecution witnesses in the N3.9 billion fraud trial of late Alex Badeh.

Late Badeh was a four star flag officer of the Nigerian Air force who served as the 18th Chief of Air Staff and the 15th Chief of Defence Staff of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

The EFCC, had through an ex-parte application filed on December 3, 2018 prayed the Court to grant the interim forfeiture of the said money, which they believe is proceeds from illegal transactions linked to the funds meant for purchase of arms for the military.

The application is subject to the provisions of section 29 (b) of the EFCC Establishment Act, 2004.

The Two Hundred and Sixty Three Million Naira had been deposited in the safe custody of the EFCC Recovery Account domiciled with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.

In granting the order, on December 18, 2018, Justice Ekwo ruled that “a publication of the notice is to be simultaneously made by EFCC in a National Newspaper and the EFCC website; inviting all persons/bodies who may have interest in the said sum to show cause why the final order of forfeiture in respect of the sum of N263, 000, 000 (Two Hundred and Sixty Three Million Naira) should not be made in favor of the Federal Government of Nigeria”.