The trial of the former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Dikko Umar opened on Monday before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of a Federal High Court in Abuja, with shocking revelations of how he allegedly collected over N13.3 billion for two years.
Star prosecution counsel, Air Commodore Salisu Yushau (rtd), who was the Director of Finance and Accounts, Nigeria Air Force (NAF) said Umar collected N558, 200 million as monthly upkeep from the coffers of the Nigerian Airforce.
The witness also told the court how he assisted the retired Air Chief to acquire properties across the country worth over N2.3 billion, out of the monthly upkeep of N558,200 million.
The witness who was led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, told the court that NAF was receiving a budget of about N4 billion monthly and added that the actual figure that was usually used for payment of salary and allowances was between N2.3 to N2.4 billion.
He revealed further that a balance of about N1.6 billion was made, out of which the sum of N558, 200 million was usually set aside for the upkeep of the Office of the Chief of Air Force.
Air Marshal Umar was Chief of Air Staff between September 2010 to 2012, a period of two years.
The properties according to the witness include a house at No 14 Pistola Close, off Panama street, Abuja at the sum of N700 million; plot 1853, Denq xiano Ping Street, Asokoro, Abuja, at the sum of N860 million; another house at No 14, Ahmadu Boko street, Government Reservation Area (GRA), Kano, at the sum of N250 million; No 8, Kabala Road, Kaduna State at N80 million and a property at Mabushi, Minister’s Hill, Abuja at the sum of N500 million.
Giving a breakdown of how the houses were acquired, Yushau, who was testifying as PW1 narrated that, “sometimes between November to December 2010, my boss (Umar) called me to get somebody who can buy him a house around Maitama, where he can settle down after retirement.
“I got one Barrister Hussein Umar from Capital Law firm and told him to look for a house for my boss. After a couple of days, he came back to me and told me he has found a house at Pistola close, off Panama street in Maitama. I went and inspected the house and informed my boss that the lawyer has located a very fine house with a quest chalet, swimming pool and boys quarters.
“My boss asked me to arrange for inspection and I went and picked him and drove to the property in the night. We met the lawyer Umar and my boss saw the house. He was very happy and gave me the go-ahead to pay. We negotiated for the purchase of the house and the price was agreed at N700 million.
“My boss authorised for the purchase and asked me to take the money from the N558,200 million we usually give him monthly for his upkeep. I then directed the Finance Officer, Group Capt. Burka to pay the lawyer the US dollar equivalent of N700 million”, he said.
The witness stated that the defendant directed that the title documents of the house should be issued in the name of Mohammed Maijama.
On the property on Plot 1853, Asokoro, Abuja, the witness revealed that the house, a duplex of about six bedroom and underground hall for conferences, a boys quarter, a gym, swimming pool and two bedroom quest chalets was also acquired from the N558,2000 million monthly upkeep.
Just like the Maitama house, the title papers and relevant documents on the property were also issued in the name of Mohammed Maijama, according to the witness and added that after the house was paid for, a Mosque was constructed in the compound, while the fence was redesigned by Architect Saka, who also reduced the depth of the swimming pool, all that cost about N66 million.
In respect of the N250 million property bought by the defendant in Kano, Air Commodore Yushau narrated that the house located on No. 14, Ahmadu Bako, GRA, was a 7 bedroom duplex with an enclosed swimming pool, three sitting rooms, a study, a lawn tennis court and squash spot and a two-bedroom boys quarters.
He said the house belonged to a Sudanese by name Mustapha and was bought by the defendant who said he wanted to live their after his retirement from service.
According to the witness, the defendant also inspected the house and gave him money in US dollars after returning to Abuja to pay for the house through Shuaibu who facilitated the transaction.
He however, said he could not remember the actual name the defendant gave in the preparation of the title papers.
Air Commodore Yushau further revealed that the property located at No.8, Cabala Road, Kaduna State, which was a Quest House, for Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, was also bought by the defendant in 2011, from the then Commandant of the College, AVM Sunday Ali Leks.
He revealed that AVM Leks acquired the property from the Presidential Committee for the Sale of Government Properties.
The witness told the court that the house was bought in the name of Alhaji Kabiru Ismaila because his boss did not want AVM Leks to know that he is the real buyer of the Guest House.
At the close of his evidence-in-chief, lead defence counsel, Hassan Liman (SAN), asked for an adjournment to enable him cross-examine the witness.
The request was granted after a no objection by the prosecution counsel and the matter was accordingly adjourned to February 16, 2017.
Umar was re-arraigned before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 7- count charges on money laundering in violation of the Money Laundering Act, 2011, why being the Chief of Air Staff between September 2010 and 2012.
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