The suspended Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, has been released by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Idris was released on bail from the custody of the anti-graft agency on Wednesday night in Abuja and has since been reunited with his family.
Spokesperson for the Commission, Wilson Uwujaren, who confirmed the development on Thursday, “The suspended Accountant-General is out on bail. He was released last night.”
DIPLOMATIC DIARY reported that Idris was arrested on May 16 after failing to honour invitations by the EFCC to respond to issues in connection with diversion of funds and money laundering activities to the tune of N80billion only.
The funds were allegedly laundered through real estate investments in Kano and Abuja.
Three days after his arrest, Idris was suspended by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, to enable him to face his probe
The anti-graft agency had arrested Idris for over N80 billion fraud and later uncovered another N90 billion, making a total N170 billion, allegedly stolen by Idris within a space of six years.
Idris was said to have opened up on some top government officials allegedly involved in some of the shady transactions.
The EFCC reportedly grilled a Permanent Secretary in connection with some deals in which he was implicated, and on Sunday, the anti-graft agency arrested Abdulaziz Yari, a former governor of Zamfara State as a suspected accomplice.
There were indications that the AGF made a commitment to the EFCC to refund some cash to the coffers of the government.
“So far, the EFCC chairman Abdulrasheed Bawa and his team have made substantial progress. This is one of the biggest scandals that Bawa’s administration has uncovered.
“Based on preliminary investigation, the suspended AGF will account for N170billion. Detectives are still digging more into his activities while in office.
“Since his arrest on May 16th, he has made useful disclosures including some suspicious accounts and transactions”, a source revealed to the Media.
It was gathered that the AGF, also made available a list of government officials having to do with some financial activities in the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF).
“As part of his disclosures during the investigation, a Federal Permanent Secretary was invited and interrogated by the EFCC last week.
“The Permanent Secretary is presently on bail and his movement restricted to Abuja. The Permanent Secretary has made a useful statement to investigators.
“A minister was also implicated. We have to verify whether or not the links with the minister were real or maybe the suspect was just desperate to rope in others”, the source added.
