The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained the erstwhile Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Mr. Abdullahi Dikko after several months of successfully evading arrest. Dikko, who voluntarily turned himself in at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja, is wanted over several alleged corrupt dealings, embezzlement, abuse of office and theft including allegations that he diverted at least N40 billion from the accounts of the NCS as well as owing real estate way above his income. He allegedly bought a home located on 1 Audu Ogbeh Street, Jabi-Abuja with an estimated value of N2 billion.
Dikko was still in custody as at the close of business on Thursday and would be held for a while pending when he is charged. The immediate past Governor of Adamawa State, James Ngilari has also been taken into custody in Gombe State by the agency over his alleged role in the controversial election cash distributed by Fidelity Bank Plc on behalf of former Petroleum Resources Minister, Deziani Alison-Madueke.
Ngilari allegedly received N450 million from the $115m Alison-Madueke made available a few days to the 2015 Presidential election to help the Goodluck Jonathan presidential campaign. The agency also grilled a former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and former Nigerian Ambassador to the United States, Dr. Hassan Adamu, over the election slush cash.
Adamu was released after his interrogation.
Last week it arrested the PDP chairman in Adamawa State, Joel Madaki, over the development.
