Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of a Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, frowned at the manner the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) was handling the trial of former Comptroller General, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Abdullahi Dikko, on alleged corruption charges.
The judge told ICPC counsel, Ebenezer Shogunle, that the commission was not serious in the handling of the matter.
Justice Ojukwu had on February 17 issued a bench warrant for Dikko’s arrest over his continued failure to appear in court.
Dikko is being tried alongside Garba Makarfi, a former NCS Assistant Comptroller-General in charge of Finance, Administration and Technical Services, and Umar Hussaini, a lawyer and owner of Capital Law firm.
They were accused of inducing the Managing Director of Cambial Limited, Yemi Obadeyi, to pay N1.1 billion (N1,100, 952,380.96) into the account of Capital Law Office as a refundable ‘completion security deposit’ for the purchase of 120 units of duplexes as residential accommodation for NCS officers.
However, at the arraignment on Monday, only Makarfi and Hussaini were at the dock with their counsels – Wilson Okion and Amaobi Nzelu respectively.
Though Dikko did not appear in court, his lawyer, Solomon Akuma, was in court.
ICPC’s counsel told the court that Dikko is reportedly in London.
“We will be applying that the lordship extend the duration of the bench warrant such that any time he returns to Nigeria, the warrant will be executed and he will be prosecuted in court,” he said, urging the court to adjourn the trial pending Dikko’s return to the country.
Justice Ojukwu, however, turned down Shogunle’s request, saying “I am not going to adjourn this matter for this reason.
“If you don’t want to go on with this matter, I will strike out this charge. Whenever you are ready to produce the first defendant (Dikko), then you re-arraign him.”
But the prosecution counsel told the judge that he was determined to follow up the matter going by his presence in court.
He further prayed the court not to strike out his application, adding that the International Police (Interpol) had already been contacted over Dikko though he was unable to provide evidence to back his claim.
The judge adjourned till May 6 for hearing of the applications filed by both parties.
