Suspended AGF, Idris Ahmed names Buhari’s appointees, others as accomplices of alleged N200bn fraud

The scandal involving suspended Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris may consume a number of government officials as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) intensified its investigations.

According to reports, based on the findings of the EFCC, the total sum in the series of coordinated scams traced to the suspended AGF is up to 200Billion Naira (N200,000,000,000).

Recall that Idris was nabbed by EFCC operatives on May 16, 2022 in connection with a series of fraud that was initially thought to be N80billion.

Three days after his arrest, Idris was suspended by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, to enable him face his probe.

In a PRNigeria’s Economic Confidential report, an internal source revealed questioning of Idris by detectives brought up names, companies, and staggering figures currently under probe.

The suspect has made confessional statements, and provided traces of funds, withdrawals and deposits in local and foreign currencies.

It was said that the arrest of former Zamfara Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, by the EFCC last week was due to the revelation made by the AGF. He is still in custody.

The anti-graft agency has also nabbed the Chairman and Managing Director of Finex Professional, Anthony Yaro.

It was also gathered that the new acting AGF, Anamekwe Nwabuoku, who was appointed shortly after Ahmed Idris’s suspension is also under EFCC’s surveillance after accusation of financial impropriety.

The allegations against him include “overpayment” to himself while serving in previous ministries and agencies.

Some of the alleged infractions occurred when Nwabuoku was the Director of Finance and Accounts, Ministry of Defence.

Another was alleged fraud perpetrated via the Government Integrated Financial Management System (GIFMIS) used to pay salaries of Federal Government staff.