Once a big man is detained, expect "sickness"! A former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh (retd.), who has been in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission since February 8, 2016, has urged the Federal High Court in Abuja to grant him bail on health grounds.
Badeh is still being held in the custody of the EFCC in Lagos over ongoing investigation into his roles in an alleged N4.4bn fraud involving NIMASA and other secret financial deals.
Justice James Tsoho has already fixed March 4 for ruling on the bail application after entertaining arguments by Badeh’s lawyer and the objection by the EFCC on Monday.
Badeh’s lawyer, Mr. Samuel Zibiri (SAN), who filed the bail application, said though the EFCC had granted his client bail, the ex-CDS could not meet it because of the “onerous conditions” attached to it. He said his client was recovering from a recent surgery and also had a history of 'kidney stone'.
Mr Zibiri urged the court to grant bail to his client on self recognizance or on such favourable and liberal terms as the court might deem fit to make.
EFCC’s lawyer, Cosmas Ugwu, in opposing the application, told the court that Badeh had not made any effort to fulfil the administrative bail granted him by the EFCC in Lagos.
The EFCC lawyer also informed the court that Badeh was being held under a remand order issued by a Lagos magistrate court because he was fingered in the alleged NIMASA fraaud scandal.
Come March 4, 2016, the court will take a decision on either to release Badeh or deny him bail.
Credit: Olu Famous
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