How ex-NAF chief converted N1.2billion to private use —EFCC

Hammadama Bello, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) 9th prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Mohammed Umar Dikko, on Thursday, told the Federal High Court, Abuja, that the defendant allegedly converted the sum of N1.2billion, belonging to Nigerian Air Force to his personal use.

Dikko is arraigned by the EFCC on a seven-count charge of money laundering and procurement fraud to the tune of N9.7 billion before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba.

Under cross-examination by the defence counsel, Dr.Onyeachi Ikpeazu (SAN), the witness who is an investigator with the EFCC, said the funds meant for NAF operational purpose were diverted by Dikko to his personal use.

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The witness, according to a statement issued by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren revealed that not all the capital projects like building of and equipping of hospitals, Comprehensive School, Kano; Comprehensive School, Yola; building of Conference Centre in Kado, Abuja and the renovation of barracks, as well as the NAF barricade, were sponsored from the tranche, earmarked for them.

“In addition to the project listed above, the defendant Air Marshal Umar Dikko, helped himself by carrying out some project for himself, like his house in Maitama, which amounts to almost a billion naira,” Bello said.

He also noted that a case of alleged money laundering was established against the defendant following the investigations into properties linked to the ex-NAF chief.

He said all directives regarding the disbursement of NAF’s funds came from Dikko to the Director of Finance and Accounts, who was assisted by the NAF Chief Financial Officer, Group Captain Bukar Abubakar.

According to him, Abubakar was in turn assisted by Squadron Leader, Emmanuel N. Agbor and a number of other junior cashiers, while the former NAF chief gave directives in the absence of the Force Director of Finance and Accounts.

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