Alleged 109.5bn fraud: Court adjourns trial of suspended AGF, others until Aug.10

An FCT High Court in Abuja on Thursday adjourned until Aug.10 and Aug. 11 the trial of suspended Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, and three others charged with alleged N109.5 billion fraud.

Other defendants are Olusegun Akindele, Mohammed Usman and Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange Limited.

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) arraigned them on 14-count charge of alleged misappropriation of N109.5 billion.

Justice Adeyemi Ajayi fixed the date following an application for a short adjournment by Defence Counsel, Chris Uche, SAN, to consult with his clients on the testimony of the first prosecution witness.

Earlier, the judge granted bail the defendants bail and the EFCC presented a witness, Hayatudeen Ahmed who investigated 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.

Uche added that the documents tendered by the prosecution are many already and they needed to speak with their clients.

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.