The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, has suspended the Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris over allegations of N80 billion fraud.
Confirming the development to Daily Trust in a telephone interview, the Minister’s Special Adviser on Communications, Mr Tanko Abdullahi told this reporter that “The AGF, Ahmed Idris has been suspended indefinitely pending the outcome of the investigation currently instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission”.
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Tanko said that the AGF has been asked to proceed on indefinite suspension pending the outcome of the investigation.
He 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 have been concluded.”
Abdullahi added that the suspension is “To allow for proper and unhindered investigation into the serious allegations against him, in line with Public Service Rules and it takes effect May 18th, 2022,”
Recalled that operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, had on Monday, arrested Mr Idris over allegations bordering on money laundering to the tune of N80bn.
The EFCC noted that the AGF’s arrest followed verified intelligence that he allegedly “Raked off the funds through bogus consultancies and other illegal activities using proxies, family members and close associates.”
The Commission’s Spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, in a statement said the funds were laundered through real estate investments in Kano and Abuja.
“Mr Idris was arrested after failing to honour invitations by the EFCC to respond to issues connected to the fraudulent acts,” the EFCC had said.
