Reprieve as ICPC withdraws N1.1b fraud charge against ex-Customs boss, Dikko

After about two years of evading trial, a former Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Abdullahi Inde Dikko and two others were let off the hook on Wednesday as the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) withdrew the N1.1 billion fraud case against them.

ICPC’s lawyer, Mr E. A. Sogunle, had made an oral application before a Federal High Court in Abuja formally withdrawing the case, citing Section 108 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.

Sogunle told the court that despite a bench warrant issued on Dikko, who has not attended court since the charge was filed early last year, the prosecution has been unable to arrest him and produce him in court.

In her ruling, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu summarily dismissed the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/21/2019.

Dikko was charger in absentia along with two others – 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.The prosecution had accused them of inducing the Managing Director of Cambial Ltd, 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 in Abuja.

Hussaini was alleged to have shared the money into various bank accounts and was “rewarded” with the sum of $3 million for his part in the deal.