The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has seized a N2.6 billion Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine from the Diagnostic Centre owned by a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu.
The anti-graft agency discovered that the MRI machine was bought with some of the funds meant for arms purchase.
Investigators claim that while Amosu’s Diagnostic Centre has MRI equipment, none of the Air Force clinics nationwide could boast of such a state-of-the-art equipment.
Also, there were indications last night that a former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh may automatically forfeit the controversial $1million (N318m) found in his house to the Federal Government.
Badeh, through his lawyer, Samuel O. Zibri (SAN) disowned ownership of the money.
According to EFCC investigation, some of the arms funds allegedly diverted by Amosu, were used to buy the MRI machine for the Diagnostic Centre.
MRI is a non-invasive medical test that physicians use to diagnose and treat medical conditions.
It was learnt that the centre might be confiscated by the government.
A top source in the EFCC said: “After thorough investigations, we have seized a MRI equipment of about N2.6billion from Amosu’s Diagnostic Centre. We were able to trace the purchase of the machine to some of the diverted funds meant for procurement of arms.
“We may also place the centre under temporary asset forfeiture pending the conclusion of the trial of the suspect.
“All these assets are apart from the N2.3billion, houses, $140,000 and N381m recovered from Amosu’s wife.”
Responding to a question, the source added: “The ex-Chief of Air Staff is still under investigation along with some military officers. We have not cleared him.”
Former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Badeh may automatically forfeit the controversial $1million(N318m) found in his house to the Federal Government.
The EFCC source said: “We retrieved the cash from Badeh’s residence in Maitama District of Abuja and the operation was witnessed by his neighbours.
“Now that he has denied having such, the cash will be automatically forfeited to the Federal Government.”
Badeh, through his lawyer, Samuel O. Zibri (SAN) disowned claims that the money was recovered from his home.
Zibri said: “Our attention has been drawn to a publication 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 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.”
