Umar Dikko, before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court,
Maitama, Abuja for offences bordering on money laundering and procurement
fraud to the tune of N9.7billion resumed today, March 28, 2019 with the
continued examination of the prosecution’s ninth witness.
Hammadama Bello, an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC, led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Sylvanus Tahir,
gave insight into the activities of the team that investigated the former
AVM.
Regarding the fourth charge preferred against Dikko by the EFCC, Bello
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.
Regarding the circumstances surrounding the purchase of a property at No.
14, Audu Bako Way, GRA, Kano State, Bello stated that, although Dikko had
told the EFCC that he purchased the property through Yushau for
N130million – paying in tranches of N90million and N40million from his
personal savings –, investigations revealed that the property was actually
bought for N250million from a relocating Nigerien, with payment made
directly from the NAF Camp Finance account. This revelation, Bello said,
was confirmed by the then NAF Director of Finance and Accounts, Air
Commodore Yushau (PW1.
Regarding the circumstances surrounding the purchase of yet another
property in Kaduna, Bello said, “Although the defendant (Dikko) claimed he
bought the property for N35million, investigations revealed that the
property was originally a guest house for Air Force which had been sold to
one AVM Lex. Upon questioning, AVM Lex confirmed that he had been
approached by Yushau, who told him that the buyer preferred to stay
anonymous. Eighty-five Million naira [N85 Million] was paid to AVM Lex for
the property, and another N75million paid for renovation of the same.”
According to Bello “Dikko claimed that he withdrew money from his account
to pay (all respective) owners from his savings but he failed to provide
evidence of this. He, however, stated that Yushau was aware of all the
transactions and Yushau confirmed this to be true.”
Bello further stated that investigations had 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.
“He (Dikko) was not a business man while in service and, by consequence,
would have had 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 his tenure, he received N558,200,000 million on a
monthly basis which he converted into dollars. Yushau was also offered
N120 million on a monthly basis but he refused, stating that his
conscience could not allow him take the money,” Bello stated.
Bello revealed that searches conducted on all 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.
Regarding monies transferred to the account of Capital Law Firm, the legal
agent engaged for the purchase of the defendant’s property in Asokoro,
Bello stated that investigations revealed a trail of about N900million
which was paid in cash, being payment for the property and N40million in
legal fees. Additional monies (in dollars) were paid to the agent’s
account for renovation of the property.
Bello disclosed that “The agent confirmed this when he was interviewed.
Monies were paid from NAF’s Personnel Emolument Account in UBA to the
agent’s Capital Law Firm account in Stanbic IBTC Bank.”
Bello also told the court that investigations had revealed that Dikko as
Chief of Air Staff was the Chief Accounting Officer of the Air Force and
that all directives regarding the disbursement of NAF’s accounts came from
him to the Director of Finance and Accounts, Yushau, who was assisted by
the CFO, Group Captain Bukar Abubakar, who was in turn, assisted by
Squadron Leader Emmanuel N. Agbor, and a number of junior cashiers.
After the prosecution concluded its examination of the witness, Justice
Dimgba adjourned the matter to May 27 and 28, 2019 for continuation of
hearing.