Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed suspends Accountant-General over alleged N80bn fraud

Minister of Finance Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed in a letter dated May 18, 2022, suspended the embattled Accountant-General of the Federation Ahmed Idris.

The letter read that the suspension became necessary “to allow for proper and unhindered investigation in to the serious allegations in line with Public Service Rules.

Idris was arrested on Monday, May 16, 2022 by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged diversion of funds and money laundering activities to the tune of N80billion.

READ MORE: EFCC arrests Ahmed Idris, Accountant-General of the Federation over N80bn fraud

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

EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, in a statement, had said 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.

He said the funds were laundered through real estate investments in Kano and Abuja.

The suspension letter reads: “Following your recent arrest by the Economic and 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,” the letter reads.

Meanwhile, the anti-graft agency has arrested a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Patricia Olubunmi Etteh, over an alleged fraud contract worth N240m awarded by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).