By Paul Michael, Defence Editor, Abuja
Former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Mohammed Dikko Umar (Rtd) who has been undergoing trial by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged criminal diversion of N66million will know fate on March 17, 2022.
Justice Nmamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday March 2, 2022, reserved judgment in the case, saying the final ruling will commence on March 17, 2022.
Umar was first arraigned by the EFCC on January 25, 2017, on a 7-count charge of money laundering and procurement fraud to the tune of N9.7billion.
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But on February 23, 2021, Justice Dimgba, ruling on a No-Case Submission filed by the defendant, discharged and acquitted the former Chief of Air Staff on six out of the seven-count money laundering charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The court said it found merit in a No-Case Submission the defendant filed in relation to counts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the charge.
It, however, refuse and dismissed the No Case Submission in relation to Count 7.
“I hereby direct the defendant to open his defence in relation to this count,” Justice Dimgba held.