The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, May 11, 2016 arraigned a former Chief of Air Staff,
Air Marshal Mohammed Dikko Umar (retd.), before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja on a seven-count charge bordering on money laundering, criminal breach of trust and corruption.
One
of the charges reads: ‘‘That you , Air Marshall Mohammed Dikko
Umar,whilst being the Chief of Air Staff, Nigerian Air Force between September 2010 to September
2012 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court directly
converted the United States Dollar equivalent of the aggregate sum of
N4,846,630,000,00(Four Billion,Eight Hundred and Fifty-Six Million, Six Hundred and Thirty Thousand
Naira) only removed from the accounts of the Nigerian Airforce ,when you
reasonably ought to have known that the said funds formed part of the proceeds
of your unlawful activity (to wit:criminal breach of trust and corruption) and
you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15(2) (b) of the Money
Laundering (Prohibition) Act,2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section
15(3) of the same Act.’’
The
accused person, however,
pleaded not guilty to all the
charges when they were read to him.
In view of his plea, prosecuting counsel,
SylvanuTahir, prayed
the court for a trial date and asked that the defendant be remanded in prison custody pending the commencement of his trial.
The defense counsel, Hasssan L.Liman, SAN, told the court that he had filed a bail application and
served same on the prosecution.
Consequently, Justice Nyako ordered the defendant to deposit his international passport with the court registrar.
The defendant was also ordered not to leave the jurisdiction of the court
while the trial lasts.
The case has been adjourned to July 7 and 9, 2016.
Wilson Uwujaren,
Head,
Media & Publicity
May
11, 2016
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