EFCC raids ex-Customs Comptroller-General’s residence

It was learnt that Dikko was not at home when the officers arrived and that their mission was not disclosed to any member of the family who were in the house

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday raided the residence of the former Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr Abdullahi Dikko, in Abuja.

The anti-graft personnel were said to have arrived at the house located at 6, Ahmed Musa Crescent, Jabi, at about 7 a.m.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that Dikko was not at home when the officers arrived and that their mission was not disclosed to any member of the family who were in the house.

When NAN arrived at the residence, armed officials of EFCC were seen around the house.

One of the four armed policemen, who accompanied the operatives on the operation, told NAN on condition of anonymity that their presence around the house was to ensure that there was no breakdown of law and order.

Mohammed Usman, a relative to the former Customs boss, said that the EFCC operatives arrived at the residence at about 7 a.m.

According to him, the information I gathered showed that the operatives numbering about seven were in the house to carry out search for documents.

“A team of about seven operatives of the EFCC in company with some armed policemen arrived at the residence at about 7am and have been in the house for the past five hours.

“From the information available to me, no search warrant was presented before the commencement of the search.

“As I speak to you, they are currently in my uncle’s bedroom carrying out the search in his absence,” he said.

Usman faulted the search on the ground that the operation was being carried out in the absence of the former comptroller-general.

“The only people in the house at the commencement of this search and even till now are his children who are below the ages of 18,” he said.

When contacted, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC Spokesman said that he had not been informed of the search on the former comptroller -general’s residence.