EFCC seizes Abuja mansion belonging to former chief of air staff Marshal Mohammed Umar

ECONOMIC and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officials have sealed off a mansion belonging to a former chief of air staff Air Marshal Mohammed Umar amid suspicion that he bought it will illegally acquired funds.

 

Air Marshal Umar is one of those under investigation for diverting money meant to procure weapons for the Nigerian military to private use. His massive house located on 1853 Deng Xiano Ping Street, off Mahathir Mohammed Street, Asokoro Extension, Abuja is said to be worth about N860m (£3m).

 

 According to the EFCC, between March and April 2012, Air Marshal Umar while serving as the chief of air staff of the Nigerian Air Force (Naf), removed the equivalent of N860,000,000 in US dollars from the accounts of the Nigerian Air Force. He then used the money to purchase the property which has now been seized and covered with EFCC logos.

 

In addition, the EFCC also alleged that Air Marshal Umar removed another N700m from the accounts of the Naf to purchase a property at 14, Vistula Close, off Panama Street, Maitama, Abuja. It also alleges that N500m was removed from the accounts of the Naf to purchase a property comprising a four-bedroomed duplex at Road 3B, Street 2, Mabushi Ministers Hill, Abuja.

 

These other properties in Maitama and Mabushi have not been sealed by the anti-graft agency, however. Air Marshal Umar, who was arraigned before an Abuja high court over an alleged N7bn scam, has denied all the allegations levelled against him.