Court orders arrest of former Customs boss, Dikko

A Federal High Court on Monday ordered the arrest of former Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Abdullahi Inde Dikko.

The arrest order followed Dikko’s failure to attend court to face trial in alleged N1.1bn.

When the case came up on Monday, the presiding judge, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu frowned at a situation whereby, Dikko has continued to evade by not presenting himself in court for trial.

Justice Ojukwu expressed  displeasure over the altitude of the counsel to Dikko, Solomon Akuma (SAN), adding that he promised to produce the former Customs boss in court at the last adjourned date.

Justice Ojukwu expressed surprise that rather bringing his client to court today (Monday), the lawyer turned around to say Dikko was ill.

Justice Ojukwu stated that Dikko’s address, as shown on the medical report, N6 Ahmed Musa Crescent Jabi, Abuja, did not support his lawyer’s claim that Dikko was on admission in a London hospital.

The judge however noted that should the prosecution, in executing the bench warrant discovers that Dikko is actually on admission in a London hospital, the execution shall be suspended.

The judge added that otherwise, the prosecution should arrest Dikko and produce him in court on March 16, 2020, which is the next adjourned date for arraignment.

In the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/21/2019, Dikko is named with two others, a former Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Finance, Administration and Technical Services, Garba Makarfi and Umar Hussaini, a lawyer, and owner of Capital Law firm, as defendants.

Dikko, Makarfi, and Hussaini are, among others, accused of inducing the Managing Director of Cambial Limited, Yemi Obadeyi, to pay N1.1bn (N1,100, 952,380.96) into the account of Capital Law Office as a refundable “completion security deposit” for the purchase of 120 units of duplexes as residential accommodation for officers of the Nigeria Customs Service”.

Hussaini was said to have distributed the money into various other bank accounts and for his part in the deal, he was rewarded with the sum of $3m.

According to the affidavit deposed to by  Ephraim Otti, ICPC’s legal officer, the illegal activities of Dikko and his co-accused were contrary sections of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000; Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006, and Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended).

Recall that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had recovered several luxury vehicles from a warehouse which the commission said was owned by Dikko. In another operation by the EFCC on another of Dikko’s properties, several units of tricycles, motorcycles, buses, and rug carpets were also recovered.

In June 2016, Dikko was arrested and queried by the EFCC. He surrendered himself to the anti-graft agency after months of being outside the country.

Dikko was said to have acquired a N2bn mansion in the Jabi district of Abuja.

Another N2.6bn was also said to have been withdrawn from the account of the Nigeria Customs and paid into several bank accounts belonging to companies allegedly floated by a former Assistant Comptroller General who served under Dikko.

Later, in November 2016, the EFCC through its then spokesperson told the media that Dikko had returned N1bn to the federal government coffers.