EFCC Clarifies Stand on Former Accountant General’s N109bn Fraud Case

Matilda Omonaiye/

In a dramatic turn of events in the ongoing trial of the former Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Ahmed Idris, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has firmly denied making any promises of non-prosecution to the defendant.

This revelation was made by Abdulhamid Isa Muri, the third Prosecution Witness (PW3), during a court session held yesterday.

Idris is embroiled in a N109 billion money laundering case. The EFCC arraigned him alongside three others—Godfrey Olusegun Akindele, Mohammed Kudu Usman, and Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange Limited—on July 22, 2022.

During the resumed proceedings at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja, PW3 Muri, an EFCC staff member, recounted how the defendant voluntarily submitted documents linked to the investigation. Muri clarified that no promises were made to Idris regarding immunity from prosecution.

According to Muri, the former AGF came to the EFCC’s Kano office on June 10, 2022, accompanied by one Lawal Badamasi. There, he met with the then Zonal Commander, Faruk Dogon Daji, and submitted documents relevant to the ongoing investigation. Muri emphasized that Idris was informed of his rights and voluntarily made his statement without any coercion or promises of non-prosecution.

“The first defendant is alleging that this statement of June 10, 2022, is a product of a promise that he will not be prosecuted,” Prosecution Counsel A.O. Atolagbe questioned Muri. To this, Muri responded, “It is not true, my Lord; I am not the investigation officer. I am just directed to take his statement.”

Justice Halilu Yusuf, presiding over the trial, later discharged the witness after the cross-examination and adjourned the matter to October 29, 2024, for the defense in the trial-within-trial.

The case continues to attract significant public attention due to the enormous sum involved and the high-profile nature of the defendants.