From: Godwin Tsa, Abuja

The trial of former Chief of Defence Staff [CDS] ,  Alex Badeh, resumed yesterday at the Abuja division of the Federal High Court where a prosecution witness, Mrs Eso Faleke,  disclosed how the defendant used GTB to launder money through the account of his company, Iyalikam Nigerian Limited.

Badeh and his company were arraigned before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission [EFCC] over alleged N3.97 billion fraud.

The witness, who is a staff of GTB, and the Account Officer of Iyalikam Nigeria Limited, told Justice Okon Abang   that the bank transferred N48 million from the company’s account on Badeh’s  instructions to some firms and individuals.

Faleke, who was led in evidence by the prosecution counsel,  Rotimi Jacobs [SAN], said Badeh, who had denied knowledge of operating the company, gave instructions for the transfers of the money.

According to her, the second defendant- Iyalikam Nigerian Limited’s account, was opened in 2005 by Mary I. Badeh.

Mrs Faleke said N4,740,000 was deposited into  Iyalikam Nigeria Limited account on July 2013 by order of Bamuba global Resource. The account also received  N3 million credit deposit on  October 18,   2013 by one Enyi Jonathan. It received N6 million transfer sent by Nonaway Nigeria Limited while the sum of N40m was deposited in the account by Prime touch Insurance on 23 April 2015.

Under cross-examination by the defence counsel, Akin Olujimi (SAN), Faleke said that Iyalikam Nigeria 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 believe he is still alive as she had not heard any news of his death.

She confirmed that at the time of the opening Alex Bahed was not a signatory  to the account.

She 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  as in this case they were backed by verification via an e mail sent to  the Ist defendant -Badeh.

Cross-examination of the witness continue today.