FG suspends Accountant-General, Ahmed Idris, over alleged N80bn fraud

The Federal Government has suspended the Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris over alleged N80 billion fraud.

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, handed down the indefinite suspension pending the outcome of the investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The Finance Minister’s Special Adviser on Communications, Mr Tanko Abdulahi confirmed the suspension.

Tanko informed that the AGF has been directed to proceed on indefinite suspension pending the outcome of the ongoing investigations by the EFCC.

The Finance Minister’s Special Adviser on Communications said: “The AGF has been suspended by the Finance Minister. His suspension will be indefinite until the investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has been concluded.”

On Monday, Wilson Uwujaren, Head, Media & Publicity of the EFCC announced via a press statement that operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, arrested the then 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”.

According to him, “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”.

He explained that Mr. Idris was arrested after failing to honour invitations by the EFCC to respond to issues connected to the fraudulent acts.

President Muhammed Buhari appointed Mr Idris accountant-general on June 25, 2015 when the position became vacant at the time after the former Accountant General, Jonah Otunla, left office on June 12, 2015.

Interestingly, President Buhari reappointed Mr Idris for a second four-year term in June 2019, amid criticisms from labour groups who pointed out that the accountant-general should retire after turning 60.

A native of Kano State, North-west Nigeria, Mr Idris was born on November 25, 1960, and until his appointment in 2015, was the Director of Finance and Accounts, Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development.

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