Former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), retired Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh, has told the Economic and Financial crimes Commission (EFCC), that his hands are clean as far as the alleged offences committed, while he was in charge as Chief of Air Staff and later Chief of Defence Staff, are concerned.
Badeh who honoured an invitation by the EFCC, to clarify certain grey areas in the ongoing investigations into alleged irregular procurements in the Armed Forces under his watch, told the Commission that as much as he is willing to assist in all facets of the investigation, he personally has nothing to hide.
Dependable sources at the EFCC revealed that Chief Badeh has been under pressure from his interviewers to own up to some properties and to surrender part of his personal wealth even when nothing incriminating was found against him, all of which he declined.
Chief Badeh denied having any personal interest in any of the contracts, nor deriving any personal benefits from any, as he was not offered, neither did he demand for it.
The source said that the EFCC operatives were angry with the former pilot and decided to deny him bail, even as they are going ahead to charge him to court on Monday, in defiance of legal advises that there were no proofs that he had ever been compromised, throughout his tenure, either as Chief of Air Staff or the Chief of Defence Staff.
The former CDS who denied ownership of the properties being linked to him, maintained that he never deliberately acted with corrupt intents in any particular purchase undertaken by the Air Force nor the Defence Headquarters, as all such activities under him showed that all purchases made did not only follow due processes, but they were duly delivered and acknowledged to have been received.
According to the source, EFCC has been under pressure to embarrass Badeh even if nothing incriminating is found against, which explains why he was detained and denied bail, and may be eventually charged to court on Monday.
The source hinted last week that, he is being deliberately framed up by people whose toes he may have stepped upon while in office. [myad]
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