EFCC LAYS SIEGE ON EX CUSTOMS BOSS HOUSE.

EFCC operatives lay siege to the residence of the
former comptroller-general of Nigeria Customs
Service, Mr Dikko Abdullahi Inde, in Abuja.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) yesterday stormed the Abuja residence of
former Comptroller-General of the Nigeria
Customs Service (NCS) Dikko Abdullahi Inde.
Operatives of the anti-graft agency were sighted
all around Inde’s home on Ahmed Musa Crescent,
Jabi, Abuja, cordoning the premises. It was
gathered from the scene that an EFCC Toyota
Hilux pick-up which was part of the initial raid
left to an unknown destination.
It could not be independently confirmed if the
former comptroller-general had been arrested and
taken away. A customs officer on duty in the
vicinity of the house told Daily Trust that the
EFCC agents were on official duty, adding that
Inde was not in town and none of his family
members were home.
Meanwhile, a contingent of anti-riot police men
attached to the EFCC remained on watch at the
residence, for most part of yesterday afternoon.
EFCC spokesman Wilson Uwujaren said he had no
information on the operation.
An Inde family source told newsmen  on
Saturday last night that the raid was carried out
by Department of State Services (DSS) rather
than EFCC agents. He said although neither the
former Customs boss nor his wife was in town at
the time of the raid, they proceeded to search
every room in the house. He said they did not find
anything incriminating and that only small
amounts of money were found in the house.
The family source also expressed surprise at the
raid, saying Inde was never invited to report to
DSS’s office, so it could not have been because
he failed to honour an invitation. He said the
family was also not sure that the raiders had a
search warrant from a court. He expressed regret
at the turn of events, saying “Inde does not
deserve this treatment because he discharged his
duties faithfully. He raised more revenue than any
previous Customs boss, improved staff welfare
more than at any other time, did more capital
projects in Customs, and fought smuggling and
other fraud to a standstill. He does not deserve
this treatment at all.”