A Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, has ordered a former Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh, remanded at the Kuje Maximum Prison pending the determination of his bail application on March 10.
Justice Okon Abang gave the ruling Monday after Mr. Badeh was arraigned for alleged fraud, relating to the diversion of N3.9 billion meant for the purchase of arms for the Nigerian military.
Mr. Abang struck out the bail application filed by Mr. Badeh’s counsel, Samuel Zibiri, on the grounds that it was filed ahead of his client’s (Mr. Badeh’s) arraignment.
The judge further ruled that the hearing for Mr. Badeh’s bail would commence on March 10, adding that it was important for the application to be determined before the commencement of trial.
The judge said the trial of the substantive case, billed to commence on March 14, would be on a day to day basis.
Mr. Badeh was to be arraigned before Justice Abang on Thursday, March 3, but the case was shifted to March 7 owing to the absence of the judge.
