N3.97b arms deal: How Badeh laundered N48m through GTB – Witness

Eso Faleke, the seventh prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, before the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday gave a vivid account of Badeh laundered the sum of N48 million through Guaranty Trust Bank Plc.
The witness, a staff of GTB, and account officer of Iyalikam Nigerian Limited, told Justice Okon Abang that the bank transferred N48 million from the company’s account on the instructions of Badeh to some other companies and individuals.
Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, the witness told the court that the account of Iyalikam Nigerian Limited was opened with the bank in 2005 by one Mary I. Badeh.
Iyalikam Nigerian limited is the second defendant in the trial.
Faleke said: “Badeh instructed the bank to transfer the sum of N10 million via electronic transfer from Iyalikam Nigerian Limited to one Mohammed Hamidu.
“Also on July 23, 2015, Badeh requested that we transfer another N8 million to the same Mohammed Hamidu.”
The witness also told the court that the bank transferred the sum of N30 million in two tranches of N14 million and N16 million to Habco Nigerian limited.
Faleke further told the court that the sum of N4.7 million was deposited into Iyalikam Nigerian Limited account on July 2013 following orders from Bamuba Global Resource.
The account also received the sum of N3 million credit deposit on October 18, 2013 by one Enyi Jonathan.
It received N6 million transfer sent by Nonaway Nigerian Limited, while N40 million was deposited in the account by Prime Touch Insurance on April 23, 2015.
Under cross examination by the defence counsel, Akin Olujimi (SAN), Faleke said Iyalikam Nigerian Limited was opened at Garki branch of GTB in 2015.
The witness said that Olorun Femi, who handled the opening of the account, has left the bank and that she believes he is still alive as she had not heard any news of his death.
She confirmed that at the time of the opening of the account, Alex Bade was not a signatory to the account, adding that Badeh became a signatory to the account in 2015.
Faleke said the N30 million transfer was under the written instruction of Badeh and that the N10 million and N8 million were transferred based on telephone instructions.
The witnessed insisted that telephone instructions were valid instructions because they were usually backed by verification via an e mail sent to the defendant, Badeh.
Cross examination of the witness will continue on Thursday.
Badeh is standing trial alongside his firm, Iyalikam Nigeria Limited, for allegedly abusing his office by using the dollar equivalent of N1.4 billion removed from the accounts of the Nigerian Air Force to purchase properties in choice areas of Abuja between January and December 2013.
The prosecution had already called six witnesses, who had given evidence in the 10-count charge preferred against Badeh and Iyalikam Nigeria Limited.