The anti-graft agency had arrested Idris for over N80 billion fraud and later uncovered another N90 billion linked to the suspended Accountant General of the Federation.
The suspended Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, has been released by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The anti-graft agency had arrested Idris for over N80 billion fraud and later uncovered another N90 billion linked to the suspended Accountant General of the Federation.
Idris was released on bail from the custody of the anti-graft agency on Wednesday night in Abuja and has since been reunited with his family.
The EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed this to The Punch on Thursday morning.
“The suspended Accountant-General is out on bail. He was released last night,” Uwujaren was quoted as saying.
SaharaReporters had reported that Idris was arrested after failing to honour the commission’s invitations to respond to issues connected to the fraudulent act.
“Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, May 16, 2022, arrested serving Accountant General of the Federation, Mr. Ahmed Idris in connection with diversion of funds and money laundering activities to the tune of N80 billion (Eighty Billion Naira only),” Uwujaren’s statement shortly after Idris’ arrest had read.
“The Commission’s verified intelligence showed that the AGF raked off the funds through bogus consultancies and other illegal activities using proxies, family members and close associates.”
According to the EFCC, the funds were laundered via real estate investments in Kano and Abuja.
The Nigerian government subsequently suspended Idris indefinitely.
Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, who disclosed this, said Idris’ suspension followed his indictment for fraud worth N80 billion by the EFCC.
His suspension letter signed by Zainab Ahmed on a letterhead of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, dated May 18 and addressed to the Accountant General of the Federation, Alhaji Ahmed Idris, was obtained by SaharaReporters.
The letter titled ‘Letter of Suspension’ read, “Following your recent arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on allegations of diversion of funds and money laundering, I write to convey your suspension from work without pay effective 18th May, 2022. This is to allow for proper and unhindered investigation into the serious allegations in line with Public Service Rules 030406.”
It added that during the period, Idris is not expected to “attend your place of work or contact any official in your office except for any disciplinary hearing that may be advised”.
SaharaReporters had in a series of detailed investigations exposed how Idris acquired several properties whose values ran into many billions of naira since he was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari as the administrative head of the treasury in June 2015.
A visit to Gezawa Commodity Market Limited and Gezawa Integrated Farms Limited owned by Idris lend credence to the allegations made by concerned citizens and some stakeholders on how and where the AGF got the money he used in acquiring the multi-billion-naira firms, both in Kano through his direct family members.
The shareholdings of both firms indicate a spread of Idris family members on the official board.