Nigeria’s ex-military chief diverted N1 billion meant for schools, hospitals to build private house – Witness – TheNigerialawyer

Nigeria’s former air force chief, Umar Dikko, converted about N1
billion public funds to build a house for himself, a witness told a
court on Thursday.

Hammadama Bello, the 9th prosecution witness in the ongoing
trial Mr Dikko, told the court that the defendant allegedly
converted N1.2 billion, belonging Nigerian Air Force, to his
personal use.

Details of the court proceeding were contained in a statement by
the spokesperson of the anti-graft agency, EFCC.

The retired air vice marshall is being prosecuted at the Federal
High Court, Maitama, Abuja, presided by Nnamdi Dimgba.

Mr Dikko is being prosecuted by the EFCC on a seven-count charge
bordering on money laundering and procurement fraud to the tune of
N9.7 billion.

Under cross-examination by the defence counsel, Onyeachi
Ikpeazu, the witness who is an investigator with the EFCC, said
that funds meant for air force’s operational purpose were diverted
by Mr Dikko to his personal use.

The witness further revealed that not all the capital projects
like building of and equipping of hospitals, Comprehensive School,
Kano; Comprehensive School, Yola; the building of Conference Centre
in Kado, Abuja and the renovation of barracks, as well as the Air
Force barricade, were sponsored from the tranche, earmarked for
them.

“In addition to the project listed above, the defendant Air
Marshal Umar Dikko, helped himself by carrying out some project for
himself, like his house in Maitama, which amounts to almost a
billion naira,” Mr Bello was quoted as saying.

He further noted that a case of alleged money laundering was
established against the defendant following the results of
investigations into properties linked to the former Chief of Air
Staff.

Mr Bello said that all directives regarding the disbursement of
NAF’s funds came from Mr Dikko to the Director of Finance and
Accounts, who was assisted by the chief finance officer, Bukar
Abubakar.

He stated that Mr Abubakar was in turn assisted by a Squadron
Leader, Emmanuel Agbor, and a number of other junior cashiers,
adding that the former air chief gave directives in the absence of
the Director, Finance and Accounts.

At the previous court sitting, Mr Bello had told the court how
some properties were allegedly purchased by the defendant.

“Although the defendant (Dikko) claimed he bought the property
for N35 million, investigations revealed that the property was
originally a guest house of the Nigerian Air Force, which was sold
to one AVM Lex.

“Upon questioning, AVM Lex confirmed that he had been approached
by one Yushau, who told him that the buyer preferred to stay
anonymous and N85 million (Eighty-five Million Naira), was paid to
AVM Lex, for the property and another N75 million paid for
renovation of the same,” Mr Bello added.

According to the witness, the investigations also revealed that
the former Chief of Air Staff came from a humble background, rising
from the position of a teacher, then a library assistant, before
becoming a serving officer and then the Chief of Air Staff and
wondered how he could have acquired such properties.

“He (Dikko) was not a businessman while in service and would
have to be Chief of Air Staff (at his last grade level) for 250
years to be able to afford the properties linked to him.

“Investigations revealed that during Mr Dikko’s tenure as Chief
of Air Staff, he received N558.2 million on a monthly basis, which
he converted into dollars,” Bello stated.

According to the witness, searches conducted on companies linked
to the defendant at the Corporate Affairs Commission, (CAC), and
several bank accounts, revealed that none of the accounts of these
companies were used directly or indirectly for the purchase of the
properties.

“On the monies transferred to the account of Capital Law Firm,
the legal agent engaged for the purchase of the defendant’s Asokoro
property, Mr Bello stated that investigations revealed a trail of
about N900 million, which was paid in cash, as being payment for
the property and N40 million in legal fees and additional monies
(in dollars), were paid to the agent’s account for the renovation
of the property,” the EFCC stated.

With the conclusion of cross-examination, Mr Dimgba discharged
the witness and adjourned the matter till November 1for
continuation of hearing.