The EFCC on Thursday, detained a former Comptroller General of Customs, Abdullahi Inde Dikko, after he was questioned over an alleged N42billion fraud.
The EFCC has also reportedly traced how about N2.6billion was withdrawn from Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, and remitted into the accounts of companies founded by a former Assistant Comptroller General who served under Dikko.
EFCC was said to have questioned the former Customs boss over the source of funds he used to acquire a N2 billion mansion located at 1, Audu Ogbe Street, Jabi, Abuja.
It would be recalled that EFCC operatives had stormed Dikko’s home on January 8but he was said to have travelled out of the country at the time.
On his return, he turned himself in to the EFCC, which had launched a discreet manhunt for him.
Confirming the development, an EFCC source said the former Customs boss was quizzed over two key allegations bordering on criminal conspiracy, diversion of public funds, theft, abuse of office and living above legitimate means.
“There is also an allegation that he diverted over N40billion from Customs coffers. The funds were allegedly drawn from proceeds of the 7% cost of collection and 1% comprehensive import supervision scheme.
“There are lots of questions that he has to answer. Discreet investigation has been going on for months and this is the opportunity for him to clear the air on the allegation and other evidence that have emerged in the course of investigation,” the source said.
Some of the allegations against Dikko include the following:
– Dikko’s Jabi mansion was funded largely through kickback from Customs contractors
– The N100million spent to buy the land on which the mansion sits was provided by a Customs contractor. Ditto for the first tranche of N650m used in the construction of the gigantic building; and that
– The funds were allegedly paid to Dikko’s personal lawyer by the contractors. The Lawyer transferred the funds to the engineer handling the construction. Both the lawyer and the engineer allegedly admitted their roles, claiming that they acted on the instruction of the former CG.
– EFCC operatives are also looking into how a former Assistant Comptroller General of Customs under Dikko allegedly got paid over N2.6billion, which was remitted into accounts of companies floated by the officer from the Customs’ coffers.
Source: Ripples Nigeria