Illness stalls N1.1bn fraud trial of ex-Customs boss, Dikko 

Abdullahi Dikko
Dikko Inde Abdullahi

The anticipated arraignment of former Customs Comptroller General, Dikko Inde Abdullahi, did not happen on Monday due to the ill health of his co-defendant, Garba Makarfi, a former Assistant Comptroller in charge of finance at the Nigeria Customs Service.

Dikko, Makarfi and Umar Husseini were billed to be arraigned for an alleged N1.1bn fraud before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The charges against them were filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), which accused them of defrauding the Managing Director of Cambial Limited, Yemi Obadeyi, of N1.1 billion.

ICPC spokesperson, Rasheedat Okoduwa, In a statement on Monday, said the defendants were charged with 10 counts bordering on abuse of office.

The anti-graft agency said they acted contrary to sections 19, 26 (1) (c) and 25 (1) (b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, and were liable to punishment under relevant sections of the same Act.

Okoduwa said ICPC counsel, E. A. Shogunle, did not oppose the application for adjournment but informed the court that the 3rd defendant, Husseini, had been served personally but was excused from attending court because he was helping the prosecution to have Dikko served.