Witness reveals how ex CDS bought land allegedly belonging to Fayose for N650m

chika ebuzor

May 24, 2016 6:03 AM

Yerima claimed that he handled the contract for the building of a shopping complex on the property located along Aminu Kano Crescent, Abuja.

Former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh.

A number of huge real estate deals running into millions of Naira have been exposed in the recent trial of the former Chief of Defence staff (CDS),

Punch reports that on Monday, May 23, 2016, a prosecution witness told the court how Badeh bought a land allegedly belonging to Ayodele Fayose for N650m.

The witness said “Sometime around 2013, I got information that the Nigerian Air Force, through the Directorate of Works and Nigerian Air Force Property Limited was shopping for vendor who could partner them for construction of a conference centre.

“While we were finding out the nature of the job, I got to understand that they are looking for technical assistance. Life Builder was a young company at that time so I decided to contact a friend of mine who was also a contractor.

“Then, Air Marshal (Dikko Umar) was the Chief of Air Staff."

“A year into the project, there was a change of command and Air Chief Marshal Badeh became the Chief of Air Staff. While on his official tour, carried out by the Nigerian Air Force, he visited our site, which was Nigerian Air Force Conference Centre. We took him round the project and we showed him all the facilities.

“Soon after he left, some few weeks or months, the Director of Finance, Air Commodore Yishau (PW1) approached me and said his boss was very pleased with our job and said his boss wanted to give us a job. Then he scheduled a meeting.

“Then he told me the nature of the job that it was the construction of a mall. Soon after that, Yishau called me again that they were ready to embark on the project that we should look for a commercial plot within the city centre," the witness added.

Yerima also said “Before we could find one, Yishau called that they had found one along Aminu Kano Crescent. Then he engaged us to negotiate for the land. He gave us a copy of the C of O (Certificate of Occupancy).

“I got to know that the land was in the name of one Fayose Ayodele. Soon after, we tried to contact the owner. Yishau called again that they had found the person who bought the land from Mr. Ayodele Fayose.

“Then we contacted the person, one Mr. Tony (I can’t remember the other name). He is the owner of Itex Furniture. We got to him and we realised that he sold to the third party by the name Kasagro Investments Limited. We got to Kasangro Investments Limited; he then named his price, N650m.

“Then we went back to Air Commodore Yishau to tell him the price. Then, he called us and gave us N650m (dollar equivalent) because Kasagro insisted on cash payment. We then took the money to his office. He confirmed and gave us all the original documents for the land."

Adding that “I then called Air Commodore Yishau to ask for which name the deed of assignment and (in which the) power of attorney should be executed and Yishau told me to execute the documents in the name of my company, that is – Life Builders Technologies, – which would later be transferred to another company after he had discussed with his boss, in the person of Air Chief Marshal Badeh.

“We did exactly as he said because at that time, our interest was to construct the shopping complex. We then handed over the land’s original documents to Air Commodore Yishau.”

Badeh was also accused of using public funds to purchase a N320m house for his 28 year old son, Kam Badeh.

chika ebuzor