N1.1bn Fraud: We Have Contacted INTERPOL over Dikko, ICPC Counsel Tells Court
Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, Monday, expressed dismay over the failure of the former Comptroller General of Customs, Abdullahi Dikko, to appear in court over allegation of corruption.
Dikko and two others are being prosecuted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over allegation of N1.1 bn fraud.
ICPC had brought the case against the former CG of Customs and joined Garba Makarfi, former Assistant Comptroller-General in charge of Finance, Administration and Technical Services and a lawyer, owner of Capital Law firm, Umar Hussaini in the case.
When the case came up Monday, Dikko’s lawyer, Solomon Akuma, said that his client was sick and admitted in a London Hospital.
Following this, Justice Ojukwu had reminded ICPC counsel, Ebenezer Shogunle, that the Court had on February 17 issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Dikko.
She berated the ICPC lawyer for not being serious and threatened to strike out the case.
Shogunle had requested that the Court adjourns the case until Dikko is back to the country.
But Justice Ojukwu said she was not adjourn the case indefinitely.
Dikko and two others were alleged to have induced the Managing Director of Cambial Limited, Yemi Obadeyi, to pay the sum of N1.1 billion into the account of Capital Law Office as a refundable “completion security deposit”.
The money was for the purchase of 120 units houses as accommodation for officers of the NCS.
It was alleged that Hussaini paid the money into different accounts while his own reward was $3 m.
Shogunle had informed the court that INTERPOL had been contacted over Dikko, but added that the organization demanded for valid charges against him.
Justice Ojukwu had also demanded for an evidence of INTERPOL’s report from the EFCC counsel which he could not produce immediately.
The case was later adjourned to May 6 when it is expected that Dikko will appear in court.
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