EFCC releases Abati, confirms return of N1bn by ex-customs boss

Almost two weeks after he honoured an invitation extended to him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), former presidential spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, was yesterday released by the agency.

Head, Media and Publicity of the commission, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed the development to The Guardian, but declined further comments.

The anti-graft agency had accused Abati of receiving N50m from the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.

Abati had agreed to a repayment plan with the commission, but had only been able to pay N5m, insisting that that was all he had.

The former spokesman was said to have dropped his international passport as part of his bail terms.

His release comes a day after former Minster of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, was also released from the commission’s custody. The commission also seized his Nigerian and American passports. A source said: “EFCC asked Obanikoro to submit his passports. He was only willing to drop his Nigerian passport, but he has finally submitted the American passport.

Meanwhile, the commission has confirmed that
that former Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Abdullahi Dikko, has returned N1b to the Federal Government.

Uwujaren, gave the confirmation via an SMS to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja, yesterday.

Dikko, who headed the NCS between August 2009 and August 2015, was arrested by the EFCC in June, over alleged diversion of N40 billion from the agency’s coffers.

He was said to have been released due to his poor health, and was expected to return more money.

The spokesman confirmed the seizure of a property belonging to the former customs boss in the Jabi District of Abuja, saying it was under investigation.