8th March, 2016
Samuel Zibri (SAN), who is the lead counsel to former chief of defence staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh has described as totally false and wicked, claims in a national newspaper that the sum of one million dollars was found in the home of the military chief during a search by the operatives of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
A national newspaper had reported that the sum of one million dollars was discovered in one of the houses of Badeh who was arraigned on a 10-count charge of criminal breach of trust and corruption by the anti-graft agency on Monday.
The former CDS pleaded not guilty to the charges and was ordered to be remanded in Kuje prison by the presiding judge, Justice Okon Abang.
In the statement denying the huge find of dollars, the defence counsel noted that none of the 10 charges related to discovery of one million dollars in the residence of Badeh.
The full statement reads:
“Our attention has been drawn to the publication by Punch Newspaper of March 7th 2016 to the effect that the sum of $1,000,000(One Million US Dollars) cash was recovered in the house of Air Chief Marshal A.S Badeh(Rtd).
“The said publication is not only malicious but wicked. It is totally false and smacks of media campaign of calumny against the person of Air Marshal Alex. A Badeh(Rtd)
“The ten (10) count charge against our client along with the proof of evidence in the Federal High Court are public documents and can be accessed by the general public.
“There is no such allegation and we challenge the faceless EFCC official to substantiate his claim.
“The Trial has commenced and as a law abiding citizen our client will defend himself in accordance with the law.”