How Badeh acquired a N650m plot of land in Abuja, witness tells court

Fourth prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh (rtd), before a Federal High Court in Abuja, yesterday gave account of how Badeh acquired a N650 million plot of land in Abuja for the construction of a shopping mall.

The witness, Mr. Mustapha Yerima, who is a contractor also told Justice Okon Abang, how he helped the former Air Force chief to build the shopping mall on the plot located along Amino Kano Crescent, Abuja.

During examination of the witness by prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), Yerima told the court that he is the Managing Director of Life Builders Technology Limited but also does partnership with other companies.

While being led in evidence by Rotimi Jacobs, Yerima told the court that the land acquired by Badeh for the purpose of building the shopping mall was originally owned by one Ayodele Fayose.

He also added that Badeh eventually acquired the land from a third buyer.

Yerima said he reached a bargain with Badeh to build the mall for N1.2bn.

He also said: “ A former Director of Finance and Account of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Aliyu Yushau (retd), who had earlier testified as the first prosecution witness (PW1), was the middle man between myself and Badeh”.

It would be recalled that Yushau had testified before the same court how he handed over the dollar equivalent of the N558.2m to Badeh at the Chief of Air Staff’s official residence on monthly basis and also how he helped Badeh to use the money to acquire landed assets in Abuja.

Yerima who narrated his own account of the transaction said: “I received the sum of N340million as mobilisation for the job.

“I also received about N860million directly from the account of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) as part of the payment for the construction of the mall.