By Ikechukwu Nnochiri
ABUJA—Air Commodore Salisu Abdullahi Yushau, retd, the star witness in the ongoing trial of the former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, yesterday, admitted that he made conflicting statements against the defendant.

The witness, who was the former Director of Finance and Accounts at the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, told the Federal High Court in Abuja that most of the things he said in his evidence-in-chief were not contained in five separate statements he volunteered before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Badeh

Yushau made the disclosure while being cross-examined by the defence counsel, Chief Akinolu Olujimi, SAN.

Asked why he concealed information from operatives of the anti-graft agency, the witness, who earlier told the court that Badeh took N558.2million monthly from the salary account of NAF officials, said he only responded to questions put to him by EFCC officials.

“I stated very clearly that statements I made at the EFCC were based on questions that were put to me.  I did not tell the EFCC that I knew more than they asked me,” he stated.

However, Yushau, narrated before the court how Badeh spent part of the N3.9billion he allegedly siphoned from NAF account in 2013.

He said the former military chief paid N1.1billion cash to acquire a mansion at Maitama, a highbrow area in Abuja.

Yushau told the court that the N1.1bn was converted to dollars and paid to the owner of the mansion situated at Ogun River Street, Maitama, through a proxy whose name was given as Barrister Useni Umar.

He maintained that the defendant, in a bid to conceal his ownership of the property, directed that the title deed be prepared in the name of a company, Yalikam Nigeria Limited.

The EFCC, which is prosecuting Badeh on a 10-count criminal charge, had also joined the firm as the 2nd defendant in the matter.

He said:  “I know Barr Useni Umar, he was the one that was used to purchase the house and pay for the construction of the house that was purchased by my boss at Maitama.

“After Umar found three properties that were available for sale, I went with him and the 1st defendant to inspect it.

“Umar said the price of the building was N1.1billion. The 1st defendant said the price was okay and directed him to conduct a search on the property.

“When he confirmed the property, my boss gave me a name that should be used in preparing the title deeds.

“I gave the name based on instruction by my boss. The name he gave me was Yalikam Nigeria Limited (2nd defendant).

“Money for the property was not paid instalmentally it was paid cash, in dollars. The documents were handed to me and I gave them to my boss,” he said.

However, the witness said he never told the EFCC anything about the property.

He said: “My lord, all that I have told this court regarding the property at Ogun-River Street Maitama were not contained in any of the statements I made before the EFCC.

“I did not also tell EFCC that the defendant went with us to inspect the property because I was not asked that question”.

Besides, the witness told the court that Badeh purchased a plot of land where he built a shopping mall with N650m.

The witness said he included the aspect of the N650m that the defendant used to purchase the land for the plaza in the first statement he made before the EFCC on January 28, 2016.

He said that in the second statement he made on February 4, 2016, he told EFCC that Badeh’s plaza was purchased by one Engr. Mustapha Yarima who he said also developed the plot.

He said that Badeh paid the money used for the development of the plot at once in US dollars.

More so, Yushua, told the court that the 1st defendant completed the balance for purchase of the land from the N558.2m that was deducted from NAF salary account every month.

He said the money was usually converted to dollars and sent to Badeh at his then official residence at Niger Barracks, Abuja.

“I can swear to the evidence that the balance was from the money we take to him every month.

“I did not record the numbers of the dollar bills I gave to Air Chief Marshal Badeh. I also do not know the numbers of the dollars I brought to him as a balance for purchase of the land for the shopping complex.

“In my statement at the EFCC, I did not say that he got the balance from the money I have been given to him.

“I said a lot more in my Evidence-In-Chief than what I stated at the EFCC.

“All I told this court were within my knowledge when I made my statements at the EFCC. In addition my Lord, the statement I made at the EFCC were just to address the questions that were put to me.

“I was the one that introduced Group Capt Sini, now an Air Commodore,   to Engr. Yarima. As at then, the construction of NAF conference centre was ongoing, and it was being handled by Engr Yarima through his company, EEILE Ltd.

“Though it was Air Marshal Umar that appointed me as the Director of Finance and Accounts at NAF, upon assumption of office, Air Chief Marshal Badeh retained me.

“Even the 1st defendant was well aware that I wanted to go on retirement even before he was appointed as the Chief of Air Staff.

“I had a discussion with him in Kano where I indicated my interest to leave the service”, the witness added.

Yushua told the court that after EFCC operatives stormed the house of Badeh’s son, Alex, when the investigation commenced, he had a meeting with Engr. Yarima and others on how to protect the 1st defendant.

He said the others subsequently met Badeh, saying he however did not beg them to also shield him from prosecution.

“I know that Engr. Yarima in company of one Group Capt Bukar, met my boss Air Chief Marshal Badeh to see how they could resolve the problem.

“I did not beg Engr. Yarima to protect me or to claim ownership of the shopping complex. I however begged him to try and protect my boss”, the witness stated.

Meantime, trial Justice Okon Abang has adjourned further hearing on the matter till today.