Dikko, 78, was unarguably one of the most powerful and colourful politicians in the democratic regime of Alhaji Shehu Shagari, where he served as Minister as Minister of Transport.
Born in Wamba, Kaduna State, Dikko fled Nigeria for London after a military coup ousted the now defunct National Republican Convention (NPN) ruling party in 1983.
A failed attempt was made by the government of Major -General Muhammadu Buhari to kidnap him from London and brought to Nigeria for prosecution on allegations that he embezzled over $1 billion.
Dikko was kidnapped on July 5, 1984, outside his apartment building by agents working for the Nigerian government, drugged and crated for transportation to Nigeria as ‘Diplomatic Cargo’ on a state owned carrier, Nigeria Airways, but the kidnap was foiled by a British custom agent at London’s Stansted Airport.
The botched attempt led to a nasty diplomatic row between Nigeria and the UK, which culminated in the expulsion from Britain of two members of the Nigerian High Commission in London, including the High Commissioner. The Nigerian government also reciprocated.
Dikko was later pardoned by another military government under General Ibrahim Babangida.
Until his demise, Dikko was a senior member of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
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