The Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, has been suspended indefinitely over alleged N80 billion fraud.
He was suspended by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, on Wednesday.
In a letter dated May 18, 2022, the minister said the suspension “without pay” was to allow for “proper and unhindered investigation” in line with public service rules.
On Monday, the Economic and Financial Crime Commission announced the arrest of Idris over alleged diversion and laundering of N80 billion.
His suspension followed his indictment for fraud worth N80 billion by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
His suspension letter signed by Zainab Ahmed on a letterhead of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, dated May 18 and addressed to the Accountant General of the Federation, Alhaji Ahmed Idris, was obtained by SaharaReporters on Wednesday.
The letter titled ‘Letter of Suspension’ 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. This is to allow for proper and unhindered investigation into the serious allegations in line with Public Service Rules 030406.”
It added that during the period, Idris is not expected to “attend your place of work or contact any official in your office except for any disciplinary hearing that may be advised”.
SaharaReporters had reported that Idris was arrested by the EFCC on Monday while on his way to Kano.
The anti-graft agency stated that he allegedly diverted funds and laundered N80billion.
SaharaReporters had in a series of detailed investigations exposed how Idris acquired several properties whose values ran into many billions of naira since he was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari as the administrative head of the treasury in June 2015.
A visit to Gezawa Commodity Market Limited and Gezawa Integrated Farms Limited owned by Idris lend credence to the allegations made by concerned citizens and some stakeholders on how and where the AGF got the money he used in acquiring the multi-billion-naira firms, both in Kano through his direct family members.
The shareholdings of both firms indicate a spread of Idris family members on the official board.
Certified copies of the documents from the Corporate Affairs Commission seen by SaharaReporters showed that the shares for Gezawa Commodity Market Limited are distributed among the family members of the AGF as follows:
(1) Zainab Ahmed Idris: 35,000,000 shares
(2) Shamsiyya Ahmed Idris: 35,000,000 shares
(3) Nabila Mu’azu Abubakar: 35,000, 000 shares
(4) Zuhair Ahmad Idris: 22,500,000
(5) Hussain Ahmad Idris: 22,500,000 shares
(6) Abdulrraham Ahmed Idris: 22,500,000 shares
(7) Khadija Ahmed Idris: 18,500,000 shares
(8) Mua’zu Abubakar lll: 40,000,000 shares
(9) Mohammed Chiroma: 60,000,000 shares
(10) Alh Usman Kansila Yahaya: 60,000,000 shares
(11) Baloni Ibrahim Lawal (representing Silvermark Investment Limited) : 60,000,000 shares
(12) Abubakar Nabila Mua’zu (representing Gezawa Integrated Farms Limited): 20,000,000 shares.
There have also been questions asked about how the AGF bought “Sokoto Hotel” in Kano with N500million cash.
SaharaReporters gathered that Idris upon acquiring the hotel ordered its immediate demolition with the intention to build a multi-billion-naira shopping mall on the property.
Despite clocking 60 years in 2020, Idris succeeded in pulling different strings in the Presidency to secure an extension of his appointment beyond the legal limit.
Read letter:
