EFCC Storms Kaduna, Arrests Top Govt Official

A top official of the Kaduna State government has been picked up by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Ezenwoko’s Blog understands EFCC officials on Monday, arrested the Director-General of the Kaduna State Urban Planning Development Agency (KASUPDA), Mallam Ismail Umaru Dikko.

He was picked up at the headquarters of the agency located in the state capital around 10am while he was having a meeting with members of staff of the agency.

According to eyewitnesses quoted by Daily Trust, the KASUPDA boss was whisked away in a black Hilux Toyota vehicle belonging to the EFCC.

Two armed officials of the anti-graft agency guided Dikko into the waiting vehicle.

There was however a mild drama as the agency’s security locked the gate and attempted to prevent the EFCC from leaving with their boss. He, however, ordered the securities to stand down and allow things to proceed.

Ezenwoko’s Blog further gathered that Dikko was a Special Assistant to Governor Nasir El-Rufai, before he was appointed head of KASUPDA in 2019.

The agency is understood to be notorious for the demolition of several properties across the state and has become feared among residents of Kaduna.

Before Monday’s incident, Dikko is understood to have failed to honour several invitations from the anti-graft agency.

The KASUPDA DG was reportedly taken to the Kaduna zonal office of the EFCC after the Monday morning episode.