The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has discovered another N90 billion fraud against the suspended Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, bringing the total amount under investigation to N170 billion.
After the AGF opened up on some top government officials allegedly involved in some transactions, the EFCC also closed in on a minister who was named in the allegations.
The anti-graft agency has also grilled a Permanent Secretary in connection with some “deals in which he was implicated”.
According to an investigation detectives of the EFCC have made startling discoveries about some transactions in the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), The Nation reports.
It was gathered that although the AGF was initially accused of alleged N80 billion fraud, findings have unveiled another N90 billion scam.
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There were indications that the AGF had made a commitment to the EFCC to refund some cash to the coffers of the government.
A reliable source, who spoke in confidence, said: “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 now will account for N170billion. Detectives are still digging more into his activities in office.
“Since his arrest on May 16th, he has made useful disclosures including some suspicious accounts and transactions.”
It was gathered that the AGF has also made available a list of government officials having to do with some financial activities in OAGF.
The source added: “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 gave insight into why Idris was trailed to Kano to effect his arrest.
“From records, the suspended AGF was invited by the commission about 80 times but for reasons best known to him, he shunned EFCC’s request for interaction. He was just evasive.”
“He was later trailed to Kano where he was picked up on May 16. He was still in custody as of yesterday but he has been offered bail.
“He needs to fulfil the conditions for bail and he has been battling to do so on Sunday.”
NIGERIA TRACKER on Sunday reported that the former Governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari was picked up by the operatives of the anti-graft agency for allegedly being involved in the fraud.
