Ex-Customs Chief, Dikko, Returns N1bn to FG

Ex-Customs Chief, Dikko, Returns N1bn to FG

The anti-corruption fight of the present administration continues to yield results as a former Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko, returned N1,040,000,000 to the Federal Government, Punch writes.

Dikko, who quit the service shortly after the inauguration of the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, came under the searchlight of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, following alleged diversion of about N40bn from the coffers of the NCS under his watch.

He was nabbed by the EFCC in June this year but was released due to his ailing health, and sources claim he’s since been making refunds to the government.

“So far, Dikko has returned over N1bn. He returned N1bn and then N4m. He is still expected to return more money,” a source said.

Earlier this year, the EFCC seized his mansion worth N2bn located at 1 Audu Ogbeh Street, Jabi, Abuja.

The ex-Customs CG, who hails from Katsina State, is also believed to own properties in Dubai.

A source close to the investigation says the EFCC is acting within its mandate.

“The EFCC Act Section 71 (b) gives us the power to commence investigations into the property of any person if it appears to the EFCC that the person’s lifestyle and extent of properties are not justified by law,” he said.

“Section 28 says concerning those arrested under the Act, the commission will immediately trace and attach all the assets and seizures of such a person which have been acquired.

“Section 29 permits the assets of a person arrested under Section 28 to be seized by the state.

“Dikko was a customs officer and served for about 30 years. He has to explain where he got the money to buy a mansion of N2bn.”