The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has formally handed over a 13-bedroom, one-storey building and a basement, forfeited by the late Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, to the management of North East Development Commission (NEDC) in Abuja.
Igbere TV reports that the properties were forfeited on the order of the court, following prosecution of the late CDS for money laundering and corruption by the EFCC.
The mansion located at No. 6, Ogun River Street, Maitama, Abuja, was handed over to NEDC management on Thursday by the EFCC Director of Operations, Muhammed Umar, who represented the acting Chairman of the Commission, Ibrahim Magu.
Igbere TV reports that the anti-graft agency had last month donated a building in Wuse, Abuja, seized from the late ex-CDS to the Voice of Nigeria (VON) as its corporate headquarters.
Magu in his remarks, congratulated NEDC staff and management over the structure, urging them to maximize the usage for the benefit of the NEDC and the country.
“I wish to congratulate the management and staff of the NEDC on taking ownership of this beautiful edifice. I equally want to implore the Commission to put the property into maximum use for the benefit of the staff of the Commission and the country at large,” he said.
The EFCC spokesman, Tony Orilade, said in a statement made available to Igbere TV that Magu explained that the Commission was unwaveringly committed to its mandate of riding the country of corruption through diligent investigation and prosecution.
He stated that the agency would not rest on its oars in tracing and recovering all looted funds and property procured with proceeds of crime.
Responding, the NEDC Chairman, Maj. Gen. Paul Tarfa, (retd.), appreciated the gesture and promised to cooperate with the EFCC and the Federal Government in the fight against corruption.
“We are grateful to the Federal Government and EFCC for allowing us to use this place permanently as office here in Abuja. We appreciate this gesture, because we understand that ministries and other departments and agencies have been trying to get this place but because of the importance government attaches to NEDC, we are glad that we have been considered for this,” he said.
