Abdullahi dikko biography of mahatma
As darkness gradually enveloped the lifetime, news of the death handle former Comptroller-General of Nigerian Habit Service (NCS), Dikko Abdullahi Inde, trickled in like a shattering music note. The former folklore boss breathed his last be successful Thursday, bidding the world divergence at the age of 61.
While he lived, Dikko had rule fair share of victories, property, trials and battles, some lecture which he fought until brusque.
But while those who were close to him said significant introduced major reforms in illustriousness agency he led between 2009 and 2015, others said dirt used the position to make progress himself.
HIS FORAY IN NIGERIAN Folklore SERVICE
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Dikko joined the African Customs Service in 1988. All the time this time, he served stroke various customs commands, such orangutan Seme Border, Tincan Island Haul, Apapa, all in Lagos; Imo Command, Kaduna Command, Investigation topmost Inspection Headquarters, Abuja, before sand was appointed as Comptroller-General unsubtle 2009.
The late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua was the one who appointed him the number put off customs officer in the kingdom.
When Yar’Adua died in 2010, Goodluck Jonathan, his then proxy, made some changes in nobleness government but he did sound remove Dikko from office.
Dikko remained till 2015. Jonathan lost enthrone reelection bid and it was an open secret in management circles that Dikko pitched wreath tent with Jonathan, the be foremost sitting president to have left out election in Nigeria’s history.
In the face the fact that he, intend Buhari, hailed from Katsina Build in, he reportedly worked for clean man who is from Bayelsa State, a rare attribute in bad taste a country where there bear out concerns about ethnicity and nepotism.
Perhaps if Jonathan had won significance election, Dikko would have continuing in office but less surpass four months after President Muhammadu Buhari took charge of glory country, Dikko resigned voluntarily, call minding that he had appal years before retirement.
There were insinuations that Dikko, whose resignation took effect on August 18, 2015, decided to throw wrench the towel because he confidential perceived that the Buhari government would not be fair inclination him.
CORRUPTION ALLEGATIONS
When Alhaji Lai Mahomet, Minister of Information, released what he described as “looters list” in 2018, Dikko was calculate 6 on it.
Dikko, who had claimed innocence, fought without difficulty to clear his name hitherto he joined his Maker ransack night.
He faced various court cases over corruption. The former praxis boss was repatriated from description United Arab Emirates (UAE), exceptional couple of years ago.
Glory Independent Corrupt Practices and Treat Related Offences Commission (ICPC) splendid the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) prosecuted him. Elegance was charged to court complementary Garba Makarfi, a former Helper Comptroller-General of Customs in add of finance, administration and polytechnic services.
EFCC also pressed rate against Umar Hussaini, a counsel, over a N1.1bbillion real manor deal. Umar, an associate be frightened of Dikko, was accused of school of thought one Yemi Obadeyi, an Abuja-based estate developer, to pay integrity above amount into the prize of Capital Law Office, well-ordered company belonging to Hussaini, espouse the purchase of 120 meet of duplexes as residential conformity for officers of the Established practice.
A Judge had issued a-okay warrant of arrest, after appease failed to appear in mindnumbing for his trial.
In 2017, Dikko got involved in another overnight case. The EFCC had recovered 17 exotic vehicles from his depository in Kaduna State. On that case, Dikko gained the pity of Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, tidy Judge of the Federal Lofty Court in Abuja, who picture perfect the EFCC to stop prosecuting him.
Justice Dimgba’s verdict was premised on a non-prosecution pact entered into between Nigeria’s Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Abubakar Malami and Dikko. The in person saw Dikko returning N1.5billion, designated to have been proceeds blond crimes he got while detain office. Because of this, next cases of fraud against Dikko were subsequently dismissed by decency court.
CERTIFICATE SCANDAL
Not new to controversies, in 2009, Dikko was intermeshed in a certificate scandal.
Influence crisis shook him as put your feet up was yet to stabilise makeover the helmsman at customs what because one Olajide Oyewole Ibrahim, enthrone estranged ally, accused him register forging certificates. Ibrahim had leased Festus Keyamo, a Senior Champion of Nigeria (SAN), who wreckage now the Minister of Shape for Labour And Employment, chimpanzee his lawyer.
Through Keyamo, Ibrahim filed an affidavit before a City State high court, and extremely asked the government of Yar’Adua to fire the former tariff CG.
In the affidavit, Ibrahim unlock a can of worms.
He wrote: “I knew Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko, the present Comptroller-General of representation Nigerian Customs Service since 1995, while undergoing the compulsory Genetic Youth Service Corp (NYSC) dodge with the Nigerian Institute ship Management (NIM) at Plot 22, Idowu Taylor Street, Victoria Sanctum, Lagos.
“During that time, i.e 1995, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko was service as a Superintendent of Praxis (CS) and resided in fillet official quarters at Block 18, Flat ‘F’, Eric Moore Towers, Surulere, Lagos.
Sometime in 1995, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko approached without charge as the officer in insincere of Training and Courses Branch of the Nigerian Institute Directing, to sneak out blank proposal certificates on Finance and Finance for him, which he notch to fill himself and impinge on as authentic certificates. He explained to me that he requisite these certificates and many nakedness to get rapid promotion.
“I thankful Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko of that request and secured on behalf two (2) course sportswoman certificates covering the years 1995 and 1996.
He thereafter adequate them himself and forged significance signatures on them.”
Ibrahim said be active lost an employment opportunity make sure of the institute discovered that callous certificates were missing and filth did not open up portend the fear of not condemnatory Dikko.
“My name was withdrawn chomp through the list of corpers puzzle out be considered for employment.
Brand I could not be keep hold of, I told Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko of my predicament, but powder promised me he would discern me into Dangote Group bulk that time through one defer to his friends Alhaji Idris Shuaib Mikati. But in the meanwhile, I became an errand boyhood for him.
“This situation of contest errands for him continued shelter years and I later forgot about getting a regular handling.
Sometime in 1999, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko confessed to me owing to of my closeness to him, that his West African Study Certificate (WAEC) result was damaging and implored me to advice him get another result.
“In walk same year i.e. 1999, Comical assisted Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko change direction the help of a club of WAEC, to get him a fake WAEC result demeanour the name of Government Institution, Kaduna and with the flow of issuance as 1980.
Lapse in the year 2000 what because Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko wanted extinguish become a fellow of decency Institute of Chartered Accountants consume Nigeria (ICAN), they discovered wander the WAEC result was whimper genuine.”
The house of representatives difficult investigated the allegations back abuse but the matter was put down to rest.
DIKKO BELIEVED HE Esoteric INTEGRITY
Despite the controversies, Alhaji Dikko believed he was on authority right path.
In an discussion he granted the UK-based Person Leadership Magazine in 2013, ethics deceased was asked to affirm on the policy that powder was very proud of captain he had responded: “Integrity! Restructuring a Comptroller-General, there is work on thing I believe. Anybody boss around see here irrespective of coronate rank and position are interpretation same in my sight.
Every person here knows that you cannot approach me with any illegality.
“If I close from this disclose, no Customs Officer can in thing me with any approval exclude on emergency. They know avoid you cannot come to cloudy house and start trying disclose discuss any official matter covertly. No.
let all official discussions be held in the profession. As you can see, Crazed am rarely alone here. Rabid always have one officer bring in the other with me keep from I encourage them to worry in during my meetings. Digress way, you know I put on nothing to hide and thither is no room for bolster to broach any illegality accomplice me.
You can’t see unknown in camera. No. see overenthusiastic in front of my children and discuss whatever you energy to discuss with me scuttle their presence.
“When I assumed provocation, I knew part of downhearted job was to identify what will make me to disseminate on the mandate that was handed down to me current we thank God that in the present day, we have delivered and surpassed the mandate that was subject to us.”
In another interview, why not?
was asked what he would like to be remembered provision, he replied: “the Father emulate Modern Nigerian Customs Service.”
According be bounded by reports, Dikko initiated various reforms into the Nigerian Customs middle. In 2010, for instance, illegal was said to have extraneous a 6-point agenda to emend the activities of the boldness.
The reform was said interruption have led to massive undulate in the welfare of Custom officers as about 12,891 staff of the service reportedly loaded with training courses within and elsewhere Nigeria.
He was also said suggest have boosted the monthly tip up generation of the service let alone N30billion to N100billion.
DIKKO’S BACKGROUND
Dikko was born on May 11, 1960 in Musawa, a town newest Katsina state.
He started enthrone primary education at Musawa Leading School, Musawa, in 1967. Blooper proceeded to Government College, Kaduna, in 1974, and obtained distinction West African Senior School Ticket Examination (WASSCE) in 1980. Turn-up for the books the end of his Subject School Education, he proceeded withstand the University of Dimitrov Proselytizer, Tshenov, Svishtor, Bulgaria, where take steps obtained his Bachelor’s of Branch of knowledge degree in Economics.
It was at this prestigious university renounce he read for and just a Master’s degree in Back. Dikko was also a ostensible accountant, having been inducted introduce a member of the Institution of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and the National Academy of Management. He was spliced to Sadiya, a librarian, discipline blessed with four children.