A witness, Hussein A. Umar, yesterday, told Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, how he assisted former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal, Alex S. Badeh in the purchase of two properties in choice areas of Abuja.

According to the EFCC spokesperson, Wison Uwujaren, Umar, a private legal practitioner who testified as PW3 while being led in evidence by counsel to EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, told the court that he assisted Badeh and the erstwhile director of finance and accounts at the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Air Commodore Salisu Abdullahi Yushau in the purchase of two properties situated at No 6, Ogun River Street, Off Danube Street, Maitama, and No 14, Adzope Crescent, Off Kumasi Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja for the sums of N1.1billion and N360million respectively.

According to him, “sometime in 2012, Yushau called me to his house to tell me that his boss (Badeh) was interested in acquiring a befitting retirement home in Maitama. He asked me to source for the befitting accommodation which I did. When I got the property at 6, Ogun River Street, Off Danube street, Maitama, we went for inspection and two days after, he (Badeh) met me at the said site at 8:30pm in a Toyota Tundra which Yushau drove.

“This was the first time I had ever met Badeh. He said I should go on with the process of legal searches on the property. After the search, Yushau and Badeh visited the property again, but this time with a lady who was introduced to me as the wife of Badeh; his son named Kam and his daughter, slim and smallish (in frame). They carried out joint inspections and they all were happy with the property. Yushau then gave me the go-ahead to negotiate with the owner of the property.

“The owner and I negotiated and agreed on an amount, N1.1billion. I reported back to Yushau, who said he would get through to his boss.”  The PW3 further stated that, within a week, necessary arrangements were made for the payment and Yushau called to tell him that the money was ready in US dollars.

“I collected $6.2million USD from Yushau.  I gave it to Bureau de Change Operatives who transferred the Naira equivalent of N1.1billion to the account provided by the owner of the property. We concluded, and Yushau gave me the name to be used in preparing the deeds – Iyalikam Ventures,” Umar stated.

Umar further added that Badeh, through Yushau, in appreciation of what he did offered him $100,000 USD, the equivalent of N15m.

Regarding the purchase of No 14, Adzope Crescent, Off Kumasi Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja, PW3, Umar also gave details of how the purchase was made.