An EFCC witness, Mustapha Yarima, on Tuesday told the Federal High Court, Abuja, that retired Air Commodore Abdullahi Yasha’u, gave him N650 million to pay for Plot 1386 in Wuse II, Abuja.
Yarima said this during cross examination in the ongoing trial of former Chief of Air Staff Alex Badeh, who was arraigned by the EFCC on allegations of diverting N3.97billion money meant for fighting insurgents in the North-East.
Badeh pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The witness testified that the Yasha’u, who was the former Director of Finance of the Nigeria Air Force, directed him to pay the amount in cash on behalf of his boss (Alex Badeh).
Cross-examined by Akin Olujimi (SAN), the defence counsel, the witness admitted that Yusha’u gave him N650 million to pay to the owner of the land in one tranche.
“And anytime Yusha’u is engaging us for those assignments, he keep telling us that it is for his boss (Alex Badeh),’’ Yarima said.
He said that the land was acquired for the purpose of building a shopping complex in Wuse II, Abuja.
The trial Judge, Justice Okon Abang, adjourned hearing till June 15 for continuation of cross examination.
Meanwhile, the Code of Conduct Tribunal has adjourned till July 23, a motion filed by Abdulrasheed Taiwo, retired Deputy Controller General of Customs Service.
He is asking the tribunal chairman to disqualify himself from the trial following allegation of bribery.
