“Idris, Olusegun Akindele, Mohammed Usman and Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange Limited were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 14-count charge of alleged misappropriation of N109.5 billion.”
By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – An Abuja High Court has granted bail to the suspended Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, and three others charged with alleged N109.5 billion fraud.
This is just as it adjourned the trial until August 10 and 11, 2022.
Idris, Olusegun Akindele, Mohammed Usman and Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange Limited were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 14-count charge of alleged misappropriation of N109.5 billion.
Presiding judge, Justice .Adeyemi Ajayi, during Thursday, July 28, 2022, hearing on the case, made the adjournment after approving an application by Defence Counsel, Chris Uche, SAN,to consult with his clients on the testimony of the first prosecution witness.
Earlier, the EFCC presented a witness, Hayatudeen Ahmed, who was the investigation officer attached to the matter.
The witness narrated how payments were made and moved from one source to another and documents were tendered in support of the evidence.
While the testimony of the witness was going on, counsel for the first defendant, Uche, prayed the court to grant them a short time to consult his clients.
He said his request was due to the need for time to speak with the defendants as the documents tendered by the prosecution were many.
Other defendants’ counsel, Mr P.B Abalaka (for the third defendant) and Mohammed Ndayako, SAN, (for the fourth defendant), aligned with Uche.
The EFCC alleged that between February and December, 2021, Idris accepted from Olusegun Akindele, a gratification of N15 billion as a motive for accelerating the payment of 13 per cent derivation to the nine (9) oil producing Sates in the Federation, through the office of the Accountant General of the Federation.
It also alleged that N84,390,000,00 from the federal government’s account was converted by the first and second defendants between February and November ,2021.
The EFCC said the offence contravenes
Section 155 and 315 of the Penal Code Act Cap 532 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the allegations against them.