N9.7bn: Former Air chief, Dikko Umar re-arraigned

Former Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Dikko Umar, was yesterday re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before a Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged money laundering.

Umar, who was initially charged before Justice Binta Nyako with a seven-count charge over the alleged diversion of N4.8bn from Nigerian Air Force accounts between 2011 and 2012, has been moved to a different judge, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba.

He was alleged to have converted the money into US dollars for the purchase of houses in Abuja, Kaduna and Kano.

Umar allegedly purchased Plot No 1853 Deng Xiao Ping Street off Mashatir Mohammed Street, Asokoro Extension, Abuja for N860m.

He was alleged to have used N700m that was withdrawn from NAF account to purchase a property at No 14 Vistula Close, Off Panama Street, Maitama Abuja.

Other properties allegedly acquired by him include: a four bedroom duplex with boys quarters at 3B, Street 2, Mabushi Ministers Hill Abuja for N500m; no 14 Audu Bako Way, G.R.A., Kano for N250m; and a three bedroom duplex and three rooms boys quarters at No 8 Kabala Road, Unguwan Rimi, GRA, Kaduna for N160m.

He allegedly transferred N66m into a Stanbic IBTC account belonging to Capital Law Office from a NAF Operations Account domiciled in UBA PLC for the renovation and improvement of the house.

Justice Nnamdi Dimgba has sustained the terms of the bail earlier granted by the former judge, including two sureties who must be two sureties of either civil servant or business men with a landed property at any satellite area in Abuja.

The case was adjourned to February 13 for hearing.