* Badeh 
Alex Badeh, former Chief of Defence Staff has been denied bail by a Federal High Court,  Abuja. Badeh has been in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).  since February 8 for his alleged role in the $2.1bn arms scandal. 

Justice James Tsoho who delivered the ruling  held that since there was a subsisting remand order, which has not been set aside by a magistrate court in Lagos, and therfore refrained from giving  an  order for the release of the applicant. He explained that Badeh only filed an application for bail,  and not an application to set aside the order of the magistrate court which the anti-graft agency procured to keep him in custody. Last Monday, Tsoho reserved March 4 to rule on a bail application filed by Badeh.

Badeh’s counsel, Samuel Zibiri  had sought the order of the court to admit Badeh to bail on self-recognition  or on liberal terms pending his arraignment by the anti-graft agency.  He argued that the application was based on the ground that the applicant had voluntarily honoured the invitation of the EFCC on February 8. Zibiri also submitted that the applicant had been detained for more than the period required by the constitution without trial. 

He also argued that the allegation for which the applicant was being held was bailable,  contending that the applicant would not jump bail or escape justice when admitted to bail. 

However, Cosmos Ugwu, counsel to the EFCC, opposed the application, saying the commission  should be allowed to complete its investigation. Ugwu argued that the applicant’s current detention in Lagos was not related to the earlier issues that led to his invitation and subsequent detention  in Abuja. Badeh was to be arraigned before Justice Okon Abang, of the Federal High Court, Abuja, 
on Thursday, but the case was shifted to March 7 owing to the absence of the judge. The former defence chief is facing a 10-count charge of criminal breach of trust and corruption to the tune of  N3.9bn.