Court issues arrest warrant for ex-Customs boss,- Dikko
Justice Ifeoma Ojukwu of a Federal High Court in Abuja this
morning issued a bench warrant for the arrest of former Comptroller General of
the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Abdullahi Dikko.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences
Commission (ICPC) dragged the former Customs boss before the court on
allegations of fraud carried out while he was in office.
ICPC in the charge
marked FHC/ABJ/CR/21/2019, alleged that Dikko and others induced the Managing
Director of Cambial Limited, Yemi Obadeyi, to pay N1.1 billion (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. Others named in the
charge as defendants are 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.
Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu issued the warrant over Mr Dikko’s
continued failure to attend court proceedings to answer to a charge of fraud
brought against him and two others by the ICPC.
Dikko’s lawyer, Solomon Akuma, on the last adjourned date,
promised to ensure his client’s presence in court.
However at the
resumed hearing today, Mr Akuma presented a medical report claiming Dikko was
critically ill and hospitalised in London.
Justice Ojukwu noted
that Dikko’s address, as shown on the medical report, 6, Amhed Musa Crescent
Jabi, Abuja, did not support his lawyer’s claim that he was admitted in a
London hospital.
The judge said that if Dikko was actually hospitalised in
London, the prosecution should suspend effecting the arrest warrant, but if
found to be otherwise, the prosecution should arrest Dikko and produce him in
court on March 16th 2020, the next adjourned date for arraignment.
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