The Federal Government has filed an application for the final forfeiture of six houses, including a mall, all located in Abuja, and $1m allegedly recovered from the late ex-Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission filed the application for final forfeiture before a Federal High Court, Abuja.
Badeh, before his death, was facing 14 counts bordering on money laundering and conversion of public funds of about N3.9bn to personal use. He was charged alongside his company, Iyalikam Nigeria Limited.
According to the application filed by the lawyer for the EFCC, Chike Okoroma, the identified assets were five duplexes, a mall and $1m cash (allegedly recovered from one of Badeh’s houses).
On Wednesday, when Okoroma mentioned the application, Justice Okon Abang granted the applicant leave to publish and fixed February 25 for the hearing.
Earlier, Justice Abang adjourned till February 26 for a decision on how best to proceed in the criminal trial involving Badeh.
At the commencement of proceedings on Wednesday, Badeh’s lawyer, Akin Olujinmi (SAN), had informed the court about his client’s demise.
He said Badeh was murdered on December 19, 2018, on his way from his farm.
Olujimi requested a short time to liaise with the prosecution on the next line of action to take in the matter.
The prosecution counsel, Oluwalekan Atolagbe, did not object to the request for short adjournment by the defence counsel.
Atolagbe however, said the defence ought to have furnished the court with a death certificate.
Justice Abang held that no death certificate was required because the fact of Badeh’s death was already in public domain.
He said, “The court is already aware of his death. The Supreme Court made it clear that where a matter is already a public knowledge, the court, being a member of the public, does not require certificate of death.”
The judge subsequently adjourned till February 26, for a report of the meeting between the prosecution and the defence.
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