ICPC withdraws fraud charges against Dikko, ex-customs CG

A federal high court in Abuja has dismissed charges of fraud brought against Abdullahi Inde Dikko, a former comptroller-general of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

Ijeoma Ojukwu, the judge, dismissed the charges following an application by the ICPC to withdraw the charges filed against the former customs chief.

The ICPC in February 2019 filed charges bordering on fraud to the tune of N1.1 billion against Dikko and two others.

The other defendants are Garba Makarfi, former assistant comptroller-general of customs in charge of finance, administration and technical services, and Umar Hussaini, a lawyer.

The ICPC accused Dikko of inducing one Yemi Obadeyi, an Abuja estate developer, to pay the sum of N1,100, 952,380.96 into the account of Capital Law Office (a company belonging to Hussaini) for the purchase of 120 units of duplexes as residential accommodation for officers of the customs.

At a previous sitting in February, Solomon Akuma, Dikko’s lawyer, presented a medical report informing the court that his client was critically ill and on admission in London.

The judge had issued an arrest warrant against Dikko to enable the prosecution to produce him to stand trial.

But as the trial resumed on Wednesday, Ebenezer Shogunle, ICPC lawyer, informed the court that they have been unable to apprehend Dikko despite the warrant issued against him.

Shogunle, therefore, made an oral application withdrawing the charges.

Ojukwu granted the application and dismissed the charges.