Abdullahi Dikko’s Lawyer Sentenced to Seven Years for N1.1 Billion Fraud Involving Former Customs Boss

Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced Umar Hussaini, a private lawyer to the late Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Abdullahi Dikko, to seven years in prison with an option of a fine. On Wednesday, March 29, the court found Hussaini guilty of two-count charges brought against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC). The charges, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/74/2020 and filed by the ICPC on behalf of the Federal Government, accused Hussaini of laundering NCS funds to the tune of N1.1 billion.

Two witnesses, one of whom was a legal practitioner, Mr Amobi Nzelu, testified about Hussaini’s good character and pleaded for leniency. The convict himself, who is said to have four wives and children as well as aging parents, begged the court to temper justice with mercy and sentence him with an option of fine. He claimed he had never cheated anyone or committed any crime before and that he was the breadwinner of his family. His lawyer, Naziru Umar, broke into tears while pleading for mercy and asked for a sentence with an option of fine in accordance with the provisions of Section 6(c)(1)(2) of the FHC Corruption and Other Related Offences Sentencing Guidelines and Practice Direction, 2015.

The ICPC lawyer, Olubunmi Ikupolati, drew the court’s attention to Section 11 of the AFF Act, 2006 and asked for a conviction with restitution of the funds stolen. Umar argued that such a request would amount to double jeopardy since his client was also facing a civil matter before the FCT High Court. Ikupolati argued that the issue of double jeopardy did not arise since there was no existing judgment on the matter.

In her judgment, Justice Ojukwu sentenced Hussaini to seven years in prison on each count of the charge with an option of a fine of N50 million each on each count. The judge ordered that the sentences would run concurrently and that Hussaini must pay N100 million as compensation to the victims of the crime, Mr Yemi Obadeyi and Cambial Limited. She also ordered that Hussaini be remanded in prison pending the fulfilment of the terms of fine.