Ahmed Idris, the suspended Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) has been remanded in Kuje prison by a High Court sitting in Abuja, over his alleged involvement in the illegal diversion of public funds to the tune of about N109 billion.
Recall that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Idris on a 14-count charge bordering on conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and money laundering.
The anti-graft agency which alleged that Idris and his co-defendants were indicted on a 14-count charge of stealing and criminal breach of trust to the tune of N109.5 billion, further revealed that the former AGF allegedly received gratification from one Olusegun Akindele, worth N15.1 billion, in exchange for accelerating the payment of 13% derivation to the nine oil-producing states in the federation.
One of the charges read;
“That you, Ahmed Idris between February and December, 2021 at Abuja in the Abuja Judicial Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, being a public servant by virtue of your position as the Accountant General of the Federation accepted from Olusegun Akindele, a gratification in the aggregate sum of N15,136,221,921.46 ( Fifteen Billion, One Hundred and Thirty Six Million, Two Hundred and Twenty One Thousand, Nine Hundred and Twenty One Naira and Forty Six Kobo) which sum was converted to the United States Dollars by the said Olusegun Akindele and which sum did not form part of your lawful remuneration but as a motive for accelerating the payment of 13% derivation to the nine (9) oil producing Sates in the Federation, through the office of the Accountant General of the Federation, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 155 of the Penal Code Act Cap 532 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 and punishable under the same section.”
Justice A.O. Adeyemi Ajayi who presided over the case on Friday July 22, ruled that Idris who was arraigned alongside Godfrey Olusegun Akindele and Mohammed Kudu Usman, and Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange Limited, be remanded in Kuje prison.
This came after Rotimi Jacobs, EFCC counsel, asked the court to grant the prosecution leave to prefer a criminal charge under section 109 of ACJA against the defendants.
Idris’ counsel, Chris Uche however orally asked the court to grant bail to his client. He said the bail should be granted pending when he files a written bail application.
Uche also said his client had to take the next available flight from Kano just to be able to make it for trial.
Justice Ajayi however ordered that Idris and others be remanded in prison.