Badeh may run away, says EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has told Justice Okon Abang of the federal high court, Abuja, that Alex Badeh, former chief of defence staff, may jump bail owing to the “overwhelming” evidence against him.

Arguing against the bail application of Badeh on Thursday, Rotimi Jacobs, counsel to the EFCC, asked the court to refuse the bail request, and order an accelerated hearing of the case.

He argued that the evidence against the defendant was strong, revealing that from a certain property,owned by Badeh, the EFCC discovered $1m in cash, hence “he might want to jump bail in order not face this shame”.

Jacobs also said that Badeh had the tendency to “disappear” instead of staying to stand trial.

He argued that the defendant might influence witnesses, who are his junior in the military, adding that “a big man should not avoid incarceration because of his status”.

Earlier, Samuel Zibiri, counsel to Badeh, had told the court that his client was a “perfect gentleman”, and that he had not “misconducted” himself anyway.

He said that the EFCC had granted Badeh administrative bail on two occasions, but that he could not meet the bail conditions.

The counsel told the court that the former defence chief had no criminal record in his 35 years of service.

He also argued that offence his client was alleged to have committed is a bailable one.

He, therefore, urged the court to grant the accused person bail on self-recognition just as Justice Anwuli Chikere of the federal high court, Abuja, did for Abba Moro, former minister of interior, who is facing criminal charges for allegedly scamming job seekers.