Dasukigate: Ex-Chief of Air Staff, Dikko for trial Wednesday

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will on Wednesday arraign a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal M D Umar Dikko before a Federal High Court in connection with $15billion arms deals.

The accused is being tried in connection with the Dasuki arms deal, in which he was alleged to have received N558.2 million monthly from funds meant for the payment of salaries of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) officials.

It would be recalled that the former Director of Finance and Accounts of NAF, Air Commodore Salisu Abdullahi Yushau (retd), told a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, that all past Air Chief Marshals, diverted N558.2 million monthly.

This is just as media aide to the former Chief of Air Staff revealed that  Air Marshal Umar has records of how he expended the N558.2 million monthly.

In  a statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, he confirmed that “a former Chief of Air Staff M D Umar Dikko is to be arraigned by the EFCC on Wednesday May 11, 2016 before Justice Binta Murtala Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja.”

Although the EFCC was silent on the charges against Umar, a top source said: “Thee allegations against Umar have to do with procurement of arms, aircraft,  and maintenance of Alpha-Jets. They are in connection with some  areas  in the report of the Special Presidential Committee on arms procurement which is headed by AVM JON Ode.

“Umar will also be answerable for what he did with the excess of N558.2 million from the monthly salaries of NAF officers and men.”

However  media aide  to the ex-Chief of Air Staff refuted allegations that the money in question was missing saying his principal has records of how the funds were expended.
In a statement in Abuja, the aide said: “This(N558.2m) was what Air Marshal Umar used to execute the laudable projects for which he is known in the Nigerian Air Force.

“They were used to reactivate and maintain aircrafts for which no funds are released from the normal budgets. They were used for training programmes including pilot training which reached a height under his watch.

“Remember that it was in the process that the Nigerian Air Force got the first female combat pilot. Part of the said fund was used for payment of estacode allowances of officers who are on training, renovation and building of offices and residential accommodation for officers and men.
“There are records of these and they are not hidden. Nigerians will through this see the real Air Marshal Umar and his sacrifices to the Nigerian Air Force.”

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