The Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, has been suspended indefinitely. This was effected by the Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, due to the alleged 80 billion naira fraud.
In a letter dated May 18, 2022, the minister said the suspension “without pay” was to authorize a “proper and unhindered investigation” in line with public service rules.
It can be recalled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in a statement on Monday announced the arrest of the accountant-general for fraud over alleged siphoning and racketeering of 80 billion naira.
EFCC: Behance
The statement reads thus partly; “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. The funds were laundered through real estate investments in Kano and Abuja.
Read More: EFCC Arrests The Accountant-General
According to verified Intelligent reports, Mr. Idris self-possessed the funds through deceptive consultancies, hidden proxies, close associates, and family members. This was confirmed by the Head of Media and Public Information, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren.
Uwujaren added that the funds were laundered through real estate investments in Kano, Lagos, and Abuja.
He also explained that Idris was arrested after he failed to honor invitations by the EFCC, who needed him to respond to issues connected to the fraudulent acts.
Idris came under scrutiny last year following allegations that he offered properties and huge sums of cash gifts to a family in order to secure the marriage of their 16-year-old daughter. The Uncle of the teenager, Nura Bagudu, told The Punch in an interview that Mr. Idris asked the adolescent to pick any house of her choice in Abuja and he would buy it for her. This, in turn, led the uncle to lodge complaints to the Federal Government.
In the letter which relayed Idris’ suspension, it read partly; “Following your recent arrest by EFCC on allegations of diversion of funds and money laundering, I write to convey your suspension from work without pay effective May 18, 2022.
