Alex Badeh Ex-Chief of Defence Staff also linked to N4.4bn NIMASA fraud – EFCC
The EFCC is said to be investigating the alleged diversion of the
funds from NIMASA to the accounts of senior officers of the Nigerian Air
Force (NAF).
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has linked former Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh to a N4.4 billion money laundering investigation being conducted with regards to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
The
EFCC is said to be investigating the alleged diversion of the funds
from NIMASA to the accounts of senior officers of the Nigerian Air Force
(NAF), according to Punch.
“We
brought Badeh and Yushau to Lagos to answer to fresh allegations. The
MoU that was signed by Badeh was for NAF aircraft to patrol the creeks
to prevent pipeline vandalism and illegal oil bunkering,” an EFCC source said.
“As
part of the agreement, money was transferred to the Air Force in two
tranches – N1.4bn and N3bn – but the money was mostly in dollars. But
the money was not used for that purpose.
“Rather,
the MoU was a conduit pipe to siphon money from NIMASA to Air Force
account and then to companies in which they had interests or their wives
were directors or signatories.
“The
money that was transferred from NIMASA to the Air Force was for
maintenance of the equipment and the fuelling of the aircraft but the
money, which was mostly in dollars, went straight into the accounts of
Bureau de Change operators.
“The money
was changed from dollars and then returned to the Air Force men. They
then set up dummy oil companies, which made it look as if the companies
were rendering services. They made it appear as if the companies were
supplying aviation fuel to the NAF, which is not true.
“Investigations
revealed that the companies were opened in readiness for money to be
paid into their accounts. We discovered that in these companies, these
officers have interest in it or their wives are directors or signatories
to the accounts,” he added.
Badeh is also being investigated in connection with the $2.1 billion arms deal fraud which was allegedly spearheaded by former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki.
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