Late Alex Badeh’s alleged N3.9bn fraud Case Adjourned

Late Alex Badeh’s alleged N3.9bn fraud case has been adjourned by Justice Okon Abang of a Federal High Court in Abuja.

The former Chief of Defence Staff was killed on December 18, 2018, by yet-to-be-identified gunmen along the Keffi-Abuja Road, on his way from his farm in Nasarawa State.

The anti-graft agency had closed its case against the late defence chief and a company with whom he was standing trial – Iyalikam Nigeria Limited, on in October 2018 after calling 21 witnesses.

Before his death, he was expected to open his defence on January 16, 2019. At the resumed sitting on January 16, 2019, Badeh’s counsel, Akin Olujimi (SAN) informed the court of the death of his client. Referring to his murder as a “shock”, Olujimi said the “unfortunate incident” deprived Badeh “the opportunity to let the world know that he did not commit the offence with which he was charged”.

“When a defendant to a crime has passed on, the litigation against him must terminate,” said the lawyer who stressed that his late client would have been able to disprove the allegations against him.

He went on to apply for an adjournment pending the burial of Badeh and informed the court that the prosecution and defence teams were making arrangements to meet, regarding how to proceed with the matter.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria and counsel for the company, S. Ologunorisa, supported Olujimi’s submission and urged that the matter be adjourned till a later date to honour Badeh.