From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
Star witness in the trial of former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, yesterday denied authorising the transfer of N150 million to Havco Nigeria Limited, the firm that constructed one of the houses allegedly bought by Badeh in Yola.
The witness, Air Commodore Salisu Abdullahi Yushau also denied instructing Air Commodore Sinni to make the said financial transactions in two installments for the construction of Badeh’s house in Yola.
According to the witness, the passage of time has made it difficult for him to remember everything that happened when he served as the Director of Finance and Account, Nigerian Air Force (NAF).
In his evidence under cross-examination by the Counsel to the second defendant, Yushau told the court that he never received any instruction from the board of Iyalikam to acquire any property for it, saying also that he did not at anytime, receive or transfer money on behalf of Iyalikam and that he has no power of attorney to act on behalf of the company.
Earlier, counsel to Badeh had continued with the cross-examination of Yushau in respect of one of the properties he said earlier was bought by Badeh in Abuja for N240 million.
Yushau had told the Court that the payment for the house was made in cash in US dollars. He also affirmed that he suggested the estate he lived to his boss because of security.
But the defence counsel tried to juxtapose the evidence-in-chief given in court with the statement Yushau earlier made before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
But the prosecution counsel was not comfortable with the way the cross examination was going, stressing that the defence counsel was trying to gag his witness.
At the end of the cross-examination, the prosecution counsel prayed the court for a short adjournment to enable the prosecution prepare adequately for re-examination of the witness.
The prosecution counsel told the court that the defence spent seven days on cross- examination and as such, it would be difficult to continue immediately without a short break.
The case was consequently adjourned till today.