Alleged N9.7bn fraud: Court adjourns ex-Air Chief, Dikko’s trial to Feb 28

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6 years ago

Former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Umar Dikko

JUSTICE Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court, Abuja on Wednesday adjourned the N9.7 billion fraud trial of a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Umar Dikko, to February 28, 2019.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting the former Air Chief on a seven-count charge bordering on money laundering and procurement fraud.

The anti-graft agency accused Diko of withdrawing N700 million from the account of the Nigeria Air Force, (NAF) between September 2010 and 2012, which he used to purchase a house at No. 14 Vistula Close, off Panama Street in Maitama, Abuja.

He is also alleged to have fraudulently withdrawn N500 million from the NAF account to buy a four-bedroom duplex at Road 3B, Street 2, in Mabushi Ministers Hill, Abuja.

According to EFCC, the former NAF boss allegedly took N250 million from NAF’s coffers to buy a property at No. 14, Audu Bako Way, GRA, Kano State in 2011.

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When the matter came up yesterday, EFCC’ counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, told the Court that a prosecution witness who was slated to testify was indisposed, and was currently on admission at a hospital in Kano.

“I have called the learned silk for the defence and explained my predicament to him, and I therefore plead with your lordship to adjourn the matter,” he said.

Lead counsel for the defence, Hassan Liman (SAN), raised no objection to the application for an adjournment and the trial Judge, Justice Dimgba, thereafter, adjourned to February 28, 2019 for continuation of trial.