Abimbola Abatta and Seth Akande
Four days after President Muhammadu Buhari signed three bills to fight terrorism, money laundering, and other financial crimes into law, the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Ahmed Idris, has been nabbed for alleged N80 billion fraud.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested the AGF in connection with alleged diversion of funds and money laundering activities.
EFCC Spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed the AGF’s arrest in a statement on Monday.
Idris, as disclosed by Uwujaren, landed in the EFCC’s net after failing to honour the commission’s invitations to respond to the issues connected to the fraudulent act.
The EFCC spokesman revealed that Idris laundered the funds via real estate investments in Kano and Abuja.
“Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) on Monday, May 16, 2022, arrested serving Accountant General of the Federation, Mr. Ahmed Idris in connection with diversion of funds and money laundering activities to the tune of N80 billion (Eighty Billion Naira only).
“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,” the statement read.
Nigerian NewsDirect reports that the incident is coming on the heels of the passage of the three bills which are meant to improve the anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing/proliferation financing framework in the country.
The bills include the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Bill, 2022, the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Bill, 2022, and the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Bill, 2022.
President Buhari, who passed the bills last week, said it was in tandem with his regime’s commitment to fight corruption and illicit financing activities.
He also noted that the passage was critical to the governance agenda and the development of Nigeria.
The new laws, according to him, have provided enough punitive measures and containment strategies against abuses and compromises.
“We will not rest until we rid the nation of the menace of money laundering, terrorism, and other financial crimes,” he said.
Meanwhile, calls and texts put across by our Correspondent to the Director Press, Office Accountant General of the Federation, Mr Henshaw Ogubike, were not attended to at the time of filing this report.
Following the AGF’s arrest, Nigerians have taken to the social media to express their displeasure with the incident.
According to @DOGUWA_Lm10, “ASUU was offered N25bn last year while they were on strike and FG ordered them to share that money with NASU and SSANU. Now, a sitting Accountant General has pocketed the sum of 80 BILLION NAIRA. Only him. And you dare blame ASUU for fighting over their rights and students right.”
For Reno Omokri, if the AGF can launder such amount of money, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has no reason to end the ongoing strike.
In his words, “Dear ASUU, If the Accountant General of the Federation can steal N80 billion, you have no reason to end your strike. Ask Buhari to use the stolen N80 billion to pay you and keep the change. After all, the money ASUU is asking for is not even up to N80 billion!”
@Sufy2_ who noted that many public office holders in Nigeria are corrupt said, “Only one person stole 80 billion naira. Do you know how many projects would be completed with that amount? It’s outrageous. You could imagine how many have stolen equivalent or more than that. Most Nigerians in public offices are very corrupt, they don’t fear God.”
In Yetunde’s (@yettieP) remarks, “The Accountant General of the Federation is accused of diversion of funds and money laundering activities to the tune of 80 billion naira. How does one person have access to and amass this much in 7 years?
@EdogaSamuel averred that the level of looting in this country is unimaginable and unthinkable.
He noted that, “Nigeria is gone; only a paradigm shift from the current system of governance and punitive measures against corruption can salvage Nigeria. 80 billion is enough to build industry & employ hundreds of people.”
@Wazobia who seems to voice the thoughts of many citizens said, “Nigerians are patiently waiting for the outcome of this case. Hope it will not be swept under the carpet as usual.”
For @AdedayoOluwapelumi, “Everyone of them (public office holders) is after his/her pocket at the detriment of our common wealth.
“It’s well with my country,” he added.