One of the witnesses testifying against the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh (rtd), in his corruption trial at a Federal High Court, Abuja has admitted making conflicting statements against him.
Air Commodore Salisu Yusha admitted that the statements he made to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was different from what he was giving in court based on the nature of questions asked.
The witness, who was being cross-examined by Akin Olujimi (SAN), told the court that the conflicting statements to the EFCC and his testimony in court in the same case arose from the technicality of the questions asked.
He said that the shopping complex bought for N650,000 million was not captured in the statement he made to the EFCC in details. “The statement I gave to the EFCC was to address the specific questions that were being asked.
“I know that it is not everything I am telling the court here that was captured in my statement. “But the fact is that everything I told the EFCC was within my knowledge and the records are there,’’ he said.
He also told the court that Badeh, and Hussein Umar inspected some properties in Maitama and Wuse 2, which were thereafter purchased in the name of Iyalikam Nigeria Limited and Alex Badeh junior.
“After we inspected the property and after been satisfied, my boss, (Badeh) gave me a name, in which the property should be purchased and I forwarded the name to the agent following the instruction of my boss.
“I did not say all this in my statement because I was answering the questions as they were been put through to me by the EFCC.’’
The witness told the court that he was appointed Director, Finance and Account of the Nigeria Airforce, adding that he had also told his boss that he did not like the appointment.
“My boss, the first defendant was well aware that I did not like that office and I wanted to retire before he was appointed chief,” he said. The court adjourned the case till April 20.
