Former Customs Boss, Dikko Inde, Hassan Adamu in EFCC Net

Senator Iroegbu in Abuja

A former Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko Inde, has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged fraud.

A top source at the commission yesterday, disclosed that Inde is being quizzed over two key allegations bordering on criminal conspiracy, diversion of public funds, theft, abuse of office and living above legitimate means.

The source disclosed that the former customs boss is being grilled over the source of the funds with which he acquired the palatial mansion valued at over N2billion located at 1, Audu Ogbeh Street, Jabi Abuja.

“There is also a further allegation that he diverted over N40billion from customs coffers. The funds were allegedly drawn from proceeds of the seven per cent cost of collection and one per cent comprehensive import supervision scheme,” the source stated.

Inde who arrived the commission’s headquarters at about 10a.m. yesterday, is being held and interrogated in the custody.
Also, the commission quizzed Ambassador Hassan Adamu, Wakilin Adamawa at its zonal office in Gombe on his role he played in the collection and distribution of N450 million campaign funds for the re-election of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

A source from the anti-graft agency said a team of investigators handling the campaign slush funds, interrogated the elder statesman.
According to the source, Adamu arrived the office of the commission at about 9.30a.m., yesterday and was grilled for several hours before he was allowed to return home.

“He was abroad when his name appeared as co-signatory to the collection of the share of Adamawa State from Fidelity Bank.
He admitted his involvement but that the money was taken to the Government House in a bullion van by the officials of the bank,” the source said.

The ambassador was said to have added that the Chief of Staff to the acting Governor, Mr. James Ngilari, Alhaji Hamman, and the Accountant to the Government House, Mrs. Aisha Waziri counted the money and confirmed the figure.
The duo, it was said, became custodians of the fund based on the directive of their boss, the governor.
Furthermore, he claimed to have left at that point and did not know how the money was shared neither did he personally benefit from it.

“Adamu had made good his promise to appear at the commission whenever returned to the country to explain his role.
Meanwhile, Ngilari, who also was at the commission, denied authorising his former aides to take custody of the fund,” source stated.
However, at the time of writing this report, a detention order had been signed and most likely, he would spend the night in EFCC custody.