Former Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Mohammed Dikko Umar (rtd) has been discharged and acquitted by Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court Abuja of one count of transfer of money, N66 million, from Nigerian Air Force (NAF) account for the renovation of his house in Asokoro, Abuja.
Air Marshal Umar has been prosecuted over the issue by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Judge Dimgba said there is nothing linking the defendant with directly giving instructions on the transfer of the money from the NAF, noting that it is better that a guilty person escapes than for an innocent person to be convicted.
On February 23, 2021, Justice Dimgba had discharged Air Marshal Umar of six of the seven counts of corruption and money laundering against him.
Former Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Mohammed Dikko Umar has been discharged by Justice Nnamdi Dimgba oof the Federal High Court Abuja of six of the seven counts of corruption and money laundering against him.
Justice Dimgba, ruling then in the no case submission submitted by counsel for Air Marshal Umar led by Dr Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), said that the prosecution was not able to link the defendant with removal of NAF money for purchase of any of his four houses in Mabuchi, Kano, Asokoro and Kaduna and there was also no direct link between him and the vendors of the houses which he bought outside the period he was Chief of the Air Staff.
Air Marshal Umar was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Dimgba on January 25, 2017 on a seven count charge dated April 22, 2016 and filed same day.
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