N9.7 billion fraud: How Nigeria’s ex-Air Force chief acquired property with NAF funds – Witness

Mohammed Umar
Mohammed Umar

The trial of Umar Dikko continued on Monday before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, presenting its first witness, S. A. Yushau, who narrated how the defendant used NAF funds to acquire properties in Abuja.

Mr. Dikko, an air marshal who served as the Chief of Air Staff, Nigerian Air Force, between September 2010 and 2012, was arraigned on January 25 on a seven-count charge of money laundering and procurement fraud to the tune of N9.7 billion.

Nigerian-airforce

Mr. Yushau, a commodore, while being led in evidence by counsel to the EFCC, Sylvanus Tahir, told the court that he was appointed as the director of finance and account, DFA, by the defendant (Dikko), a position that put him in charge of all the financial roles.

“I receive all money of the Nigerian Air Force and disburse it as authorised by the defendant. The Nigerian Air Force received its funds to the tune of N4billion monthly”, he said.

According to the witness, “Of the N4 billion received monthly, the actual figure used in paying staff salary was between N2.3 billion to N2.4 billion. Out of the remaining N1.6 billion, N558,200.000.00 (five hundred and fifty eight million, two hundred thousand naira) was usually set aside for upkeep of the defendant, while N120 million was for the office of the DFA.

The PW1 went further to explain how the sum of N558,200.000.00 that was set aside for the upkeep of the Chief of Air Staff office was always converted to dollar equivalent and taken to Mr. Dikko in his personal house.

“The defendant (Dikko) purchased a five-bedroom duplex with a swimming pool, a guest chalet at N700million in Maitama, Abuja for his retirement,” Mr. Yushau disclosed.

The witness further told the court that the defendant had a property with underground hall in Asokoro purchased at N860 million and renovated at the cost of N66 million in early 2012. He added that, in 2011, the defendant acquired a property in Kano and another property in Kaduna.

“The Kaduna property was purchased at the cost of N80 million and a sum of N75 million or N80 million was used to renovate it”, said the PW1.

Mr. Yushau also disclosed that Mr. Dikko had a property at Mabushi, which cost N500 million.

Further hearing on the matter has been adjourned to February 16, 2017.

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  • sammyctu ode

    This was how the military ruined Nigeria for 38 years of their inglorious rule that brought the country to her kneels. How can an ordinary public servant corner so much money on a monthly basis and his superiors were not aware of it? This shows how corrupt the military was and still is. I hope the current military boys in charge are not doing what their predecessors were doing.

  • DanielOsazuwa

    This scum should have been taken before a Military Court Marshall not our corrupt Judiciary where judgement goes to the highest bidder. Reason I somehow agree with people saying PMB fight against corruption is photoshop.

    He was stealing 28% of NAF monthly allocation and the C of C that appointed him said stealing was not corruption. A special place is reserved for these bastards in hell.

  • Okokondem

    Has it not become obvious that Nigerians wake up every day to a new allegation involving embezzlement of large, no obscene, amounts of the people’s money. I didn’t even bother to read this article, what’s the point? We already know nothing substantive would come out of the investigation. Even when investigators and enforcement agencies tell Nigerians money has been recovered in the process, there is no transparency regarding how the recovered loots are accounted for.

    Today, it safe to say that the goal of most people that go into politics in Nigeria is to enrich themselves by defrauding the people. Same conclusion can safely be reached regarding most civil servants entrusted with significant budgetary allocations. They all have demonstrated a preference for embezzlement and outright thievery.

    If that is the case, and history has shown that to be true, why not INVESTIGATE every politician, every head of MDAs and their subordinates in various ministries ever in charge of public funds. We can apply a different rule that they are all guilty until proven innocent.

    • Abimbola Abiloye

      Please prosecute all these selfish thieves and beware of the corrupt police that will let them free. Our great country has been turned upside down by the likes of Ibori. Whoever frees Ibori and all these selfish, greedy thieves will surely rot in hell by God’s grace.Let justice be done. People are suffering in Nigeria.
      My experience in Nigeria is sad where a tenant who claimed to have left my late brother’s house for over 5 years avoiding payment of rent was secretly using the apartment as a hide out. Just because I told some people to throw the things i found in the apartment which is supposed to be empty out. The so called engineer Akinmolayan bribed some police officers and they are threatening to arrest me or anyone of my family, ( we are the rightful owners) if they see us around our own property. This is a typical example of how people get away with murder and the innocent ones that cry out for help are turned against just because of bribery.

  • Spoken word

    This country has been raped finish

  • The King

    Somebody said special place is prepared for this Dignified Rober in Hell: If is conducted he will go to Nigeria Hell.

  • Julius

    Hummm, this man must be a biafraudian because Buhari no dey prosecute Northerners for corruption !

    • Broadway2

      No mind them ooo

      • Julius

        Nah, the delusional touts are just too funny to me.

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  • Dejandon

    Nigeria needs to beware of anyone named Umaru Dikko or anything close to such name. That name seems synonymous to grand corruption