Why EFCC Raided Ex-Custom Comptroller General's Home

The petition written by a pressure group to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Offences Commission (ICPC) was the reason behind why the EFCC raided the residence of the a one time ex-custom comptroller general, Abdullahi Inde Dikko on Friday, January 9.

The former custom boss was alleged to have used his office to carry out corrupt practices towards the tail end of his tenure and that he was not transparent in some dealings done by custom.

Abdullahi Inde Dikko, ex-custom comptroller general

Dikko who lives on 6, Ahmed Musa Street, Jabi in Abuja had at least 7 men of the anti-graft agency as guests in the early hours of the morning of yesterday. The men came possibly to apprehend him. However, they did not meet the ex-custom comptroller general at home.

Members of the anti-corruption body that came for the arrest included armed police officer who searched every nook and cranny of the former custom’s boss’ home for several hours.]

One Mohammed Usman who is related to the embattled former custom boss said:“EFCC called very early in the morning and the man they were there to catch was not at home.

“Until noon, the EFCC operatives that swooped on the former Customs chief were still lurking around with some armed policemen possibly to avoid an altercation as customs men also guard Dikko’s premises.

“They were about seven EFCC operatives that visited Dikko’s home for a possible arrest but they later resorted to searching his premises for anything of value to their mission.”

However, another person who was privy to the EFCC’s visit said:

“A team of about seven operatives of the EFCC in company with some armed policemen arrived at the residence at 7am and have been in the house in the past five hours. One of his family members found at the premises however claimed that the EFCC men and police never showed any order for either search or his arrest.

“They did not show us any order either from the court or otherwise for the search, and they had access to everywhere including the rooms in Dikko’s absence.”

Relatedly, President Muhammadu Buhari said anyone found guilty in the $2.1billion Dasuki arms scandal will lose all his or her properties to the Federal Government.