Alex Enumah in Abuja
A fourth prosecution witness (PW4) in the ongoing trial of former Chief of Defence Staff, (CDS), Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh over allegations of corruption and diversion of funds belonging to the Nigerian Air Force, Engr. Mustapha Yerima, told a Federal High Court on Monday how he got the sum of over N400m as mobilization fee to commence the construction of a shopping mall allegedly owned by Badeh.
Yerima made the disclosure while giving his evidence led by prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) at the resumption of the trial.
Yerima said the money was given to him by Air Commodore Abdullahi Yushau following the presentation of a bill of quantity for the construction of the shopping mall.
According to him, the sum of N1.2b was given in the bill of quantity to Yushau who asked him to give him some time to discuss with his boss Badeh.
“Yushau collected the bill and said he will get back to me. He later called us to work out modalities on how to start the project”, the witness said. Adding that Yushau was also given a payment schedule to provide him with an understanding of what would be paid at each stage.
Yerima said further that after they received the first mobilization from Yushau another sum of over N3oom in dollar equivalent was also received before construction of the mall was started.
The witness further stated that at each stage of the project, they prepare a progress report which according to Yushau was submitted to the former Air Chief.
Yerima however disclosed that at a time, during the construction of the project, Yushau called them for a meeting where they were informed that payments on the project would henceforth come from the Nigerian Air Force.
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