Crime

Suspended AGF Re-arraigned by EFCC

By Web News 373

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has re-arraigned suspended Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, and three others before a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama over an alleged N109.5bn fraud.

Other defendants are Olusegun Akindele; Mohammed Usman and Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange Limited.

They were first arraigned on July 22 before a vacation judge, Justice Adeyemi Ajayi, on a 13-count charge bordering on misappropriation ofN109.5bn.

However, upon the resumption of the court, the case was transferred to Justice Yusuf Halilu.

They all pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against them.

Following their not-guilty plea, counsel for Idris, Chris Uche (SAN), prayed the court to allow the defendants to continue to enjoy the earlier bail granted them by the court on July 28

He submitted that they have been complying with their bail conditions.

Counsel for other defendants aligned themselves with Uche’s application and submission.

The EFCC counsel, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, did not object to the application.

He, however, left the decision to the court to exercise its discretion.

Ruling on the application, Justice Halilu held that bail is a constitutional right of a defendant.

He, however, directed that defendants submit their passports to the court’s registrar.

The judge added that if the documents are with the prosecution, they should pass the same to the registrar.

Justice Halilu adjourned the case until November 23 for hearing.

The EFCC allegations include that between February and December 2021 Idris accepted from Akindele, a gratification of N15. 1bn as a motive for accelerating the payment of 13 per cent derivation to the nine oil-producing states in the federation, through the office of the Accountant General of the Federation.

The anti-graft agency also alleged that N84. 3bn from the Federal Government’s account was converted by the first and second defendants between February and November 2021.

Punch/Titilayo Titilayo

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Crime

Fraud Case: Former AGF Gets Bail

By Web News 502

An Abuja High Court sitting at Maitama, on Thursday, granted bail to the former Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris.

This is coming barely a week after the court remanded the former AGF in prison. The court had last week Friday ordered that Idris and his co-defendants be kept in Kuje Correctional facility pending the hearing of their bail applications.

The remand order followed the arraignment of the former AGF by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The other defendants were Godfrey Olusegun Akindele, Mohammed Kudu Usman and Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange Ltd.

The defendants are being prosecuted on a 14-count charge of stealing and criminal breach of trust to the tune of N109, 485,572,691.9.

But in n his judgement on Thursday, the presiding judge, Justice Adeyemi Ajayi, adopted all the terms and conditions of the administrative bail the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission earlier gave the ex-AGF and his two co-defendants.

“In line with the due process and supremacy of the law, the Defendants are still entitled to bail, irrespective of the enormity of the allegations against them.

https://644dd13958122293b86bcfc9dc1bff6b.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html “The EFCC did not in any of its processes, stated that the defendants misbehaved while on administrative bail”, Ajayi ruled.

Ajayi also ordered that the defendants shall not leave the Federal Capital Territory without permission of the court.

Justice Ajayi threatened to revoke the bail of any of them who fail to appear for trial.

The court also stated that the defendants shall sign an undertaken that they will abide by the bail conditions by the EFCC.

Justice Ajayi added that the defendants should not have and shall not procure alternate passports until the case is expensed, having deposited their original passports to the commission.

The ruling was given by the Judge on grounds that the allegations against the defendants are yet to be proven.

The trial began immediately after the ruling on bail.

Punch/ Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

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Crime

Court Remands AGF,Idris Others in Kuje Prison

By Web News 565

An FCT High Court on Friday ordered that the suspended Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, and three others be remanded in Kuje Correctional Facility over alleged N109.5 billion fraud.

Other defendants are Olusegun Akindele, Mohammed Usman and Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange Limited.

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) arraigned them on a 14-count charge of alleged misappropriation of N109.5 billion.

Justice O. Adeyemi Ajayi gave the order after the submission of all counsel in the matter.

She ordered that the defendants be remanded at Kuje correctional centre pending bail applications.

She adjourned until July 27 for hearing in the bail applications.

Earlier, Counsel to Idris, Chris Uche SAN prayed the court to allow the defendant to continue enjoying the administrative bail granted to him by the EFCC.

Uche added that the EFCC has the defendant’s international passport, and as such they should be allowed to come back on Monday to take their bail application.

He urged the court to permit the defendants to come back on Monday and not remand them at any correctional facility.

However, the EFCC’s counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN said the administrative bail ended once the charge was filed.

The Nation/Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

Crime

AGF Ahmed Idris Suspended over N80bn Scandal

By Web News 499

Minister of Finance Budget and National Planning Mrs Zainab Ahmed has suspended the embattled Accountant General of the Federation Ahmed Idris.

The suspension letter marked HMFBNP/AGF/SUSPENSION/5/2022 and dated 18th May, 2022 said the suspension became necessary “to allow for proper and unhindered investigation in to the serious allegations in line with Public Service Rules 030406”.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.

“During this period, you are not expected to attend to your place of work or contact any official in your Office except for any disciplinary hearing that may be advised.

“it is expected that you will strictly comply with any instructions that will be forwarded to you in your current location or your known recorded address as stipulated in the extant rules.”

Nation/Ugbodovon Simeon

Crime

EFCC arrests Ahmed Idris, Accountant General of the Federation for N80 billion fraud

By Web News 688

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.

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.

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

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