A witness in the ongoing trial of former Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh, has shed light on how Mr. Badeh bought a land belonging to Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, for N650 million.
The witness, Mustapha Yerima, managing director of a contracting firm, Right Builders Limited, said he got to know about the said land during a negotiation with a company, Kasamgo Investment, for the purchase of a land, on which his company would construct a mall for Mr. Badeh.
Mr. Yerima explained that it all started in 2013 when he found out about the plan of the Nigerian Air Force to engage the services of contractors for the construction of a mall for the helmsman at the Air Force.
He said he bided for the contract, alongside a friend of his, and they won.
“The director of finance, Air Commodore Yushau approached me and said his boss is very pleased with our job and that he will want to give us a job. Then we scheduled a meeting.
“When we met, he told me the nature of the job, and that it deals with the construction of malls.”
He said Mr. Yushau informed him about a commercial property, which would be used, after buying, for the construction of the said mall, adding that the property belonged to Mr. Fayose.
He noted that as part of the contract, they were to engage in the process of purchase for their partners, Mr. Badeh and his protege (Mr. Yushau).
Mr. Yerima said at the time of the negotiation however, the said land had been sold off by Mr. Fayose and that the buyer had also sold it to a third party.
