DSS places Badeh’s wife, sons on watch list, may miss burial

The Department of State Services and Nigeria Immigration Service have placed the family members of the immediate past chief of defence staff Alex Badeh on watch list.

They may also miss his burial as a result.

Mr Badeh died on Tuesday from gunshot wounds when his vehicle was attacked while returning from his farm along Abuja-Keffi Road.

His widow, Mary Badeh, and his two sons, Alex (jnr) and Kam have been in the United States since 2016 following his prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

A family friend of the Badehs told The Punch that it was unlikely if they would come.

“I have spoken with them and I don’t know for now if they will be coming but it is highly unlikely. Their father has just been killed under controversial circumstances and the government has not removed them from the watch list. If they return and their passports are seized and they are not allowed to return, it would be a double tragedy.

“Everybody is still in shock so we cannot say for now if they will be coming but since they are Christians, there is no rush. A lot can happen before then,” he said.

A prosecution witness Abubakar Madaki had told a Federal High Court sitting in Maitama that Badeh’s wife and children were being investigated for offences with which Mr Badeh was charged.

Mr Madaki said the three of them escaped to the United States before the investigation was concluded.

He said when his team concluded investigation in the case, it discovered that the first defendant (Badeh) and his wife had earlier incorporated a company, Iyalikam Nigeria Limited, in whose accounts they allegedly diverted the Nigerian Air Force’s funds.