• Buys N2.3b property
From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
The Federal Government, yesterday opened its case against former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Dikko Umar, with shocking revelations of how he collected over N13.3 billion for two years, from N558 million monthly upkeep allowance.
Air Marshal Umar was Chief of Air Staff between 2010 and 2012.
Revealing this yesterday, star prosecution counsel, Air Commodore Salisu Yaushau (retd), who was the Director of Finance and Accounts, Nigeria Air Force (NAF), also told the court how he assisted the retired Air Chief to acquire property across the country worth over N2.3 billion, out of the monthly upkeep of N558 million.
The witness, who was led by prosecution counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, told Justice Nnamdi Dimgba that NAF was receiving a budget of about N4 billion monthly, from which between N2.3 billion to 2.4 billion was used for payment of salary and allowances.
He revealed that from the balance of about N1.6 billion, the sum of N558 million was usually set aside for the upkeep of the Chief of Air Force.
The property acquired by the former Air Chief, according to the witness, include a house at No 14, Pistola Close, off Panama Street, Abuja bought N700 million; Plot 1853, Denq Xiano Ping Street, Asokoro, Abuja, worth N860 million; another house at No 14, Ahmadu Boko Street, Government Reservation Area (GRA), Kano, worth N250 million; No 8, Kabala Road, Kaduna State, worth N80 million and a property at Mabushi, Minister’s Hill, Abuja bought N500 million.
Giving a breakdown of how the houses were acquired, Yaushau, who was testifying as PW1, said: “Sometimes between November and December 2010, my boss (AM Umar) asked me to get somebody who could buy him a house around Maitama, where he can settle down after retirement.
“I contacted one Barrister Hussein Umar from Capital Law firm to look for a house. After a couple of days, he came back and told me he had found a house at Pistola Close, off Panama Street in Maitama. I inspected the house and informed my boss that the lawyer had located a very fine house with a guest chalet, swimming pool and boys’ quarters.
“My boss asked me to arrange for inspection of the house. I drove him to the property in the night. We met the lawyer, Umar, and my boss saw the house. He was very happy and gave me the go-ahead to pay. We negotiated for the purchase of the house and the price was agreed at N700 million.
“My boss authorised the purchase and asked me to take money from the N558 million we usually give him monthly for his upkeep. I then directed the Finance Officer, Group Capt. Burka, to pay the lawyer the US dollar equivalent of N700 million.
The witness said the defendant directed that the title documents of the house be issued in the name of Mohammed Maijama.
On the N860 million property at Plot 1853, Asokoro, Abuja, the witness revealed that the house, a duplex of about six bedroom and underground hall for conferences, a boys’ quarter, a gym, swimming pool and two bedroom guest chalets, was also acquired from the N558 million monthly upkeep allowance.
Just like the Maitama house, the title papers and relevant deeds documents were issued in the name of Mohammed Maijama, according to the witness.
He added that after the house was paid for, a mosque was constructed in the compound, while the fence was re-designed by Architect Saka, who also reduced the depth of the swimming pool, all at the cost of N66 million.
In respect of the N250 million property bought by the defendant in Kano, Air Commodore Yaushau narrated that the house located at No. 14, Ahmadu Bako, GRA, was a 7-bedroom duplex with an enclosed swimming pool, three sitting rooms, a study, a lawn tennis court, squash spot and a two-bedroom boys’ quarters.
He said the house belonged to a Sudanese by name Mustapha and was bought by the defendant, who said he wanted to live there after his retirement.
According to the witness, the defendant also inspected the house and gave him money in US dollars to pay for the house through Shuaibu who facilitated the transaction.
He, however, said he could not remember the actual name the defendant gave for the title papers.
At the close of his evidence-in-chief, lead defence counsel, Hassan Liman (SAN), asked for an adjournment to enable him cross-examine the witness.
The request was granted, as it was not opposed by the prosecution counsel. The matter was, accordingly, adjourned to February 16, 2017.
Umar was re-arraigned before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 7-count charge of money laundering, in violation of the Money Laundering Act, 2011, when he was the Chief of Air Staff.
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