JUST like the proverbial hunter becoming the bushmeat, the country’s Accountant-General, Ahmed Idris, was arrested during the week over alleged money laundering and diversion of public funds.
Some of the many duties of the Accountant-General is to detect and deter corruption through a timely audit, and to also carry out external audit functions and scrutiny of public funds, but unfortunately, Idris allegedly failed to uphold these duties.
On different occasions, he got summoned by the House of Representatives for carrying out some activities ‘without due process.’
He got caught by the long arm of the law during the week; Idris was intercepted in Kano and was subsequently flown to Abuja.
The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) in a statement explained that Idris allegedly diverted and laundered N80billion – about N78 billion more than convicted former pension boss, Abdulrasheed Maina diverted from the pension fund.
Uwujaren disclosed that Idris laundered the money through real estate investments in Kano and Abuja. At least 17 properties were traced to Idris. Uwujaren explained that Idris was arrested after he failed to honour invitations by the EFCC to respond to issues connected to the fraudulent acts.
All of the preliminary investigations showed that the country’s chief accountant allegedly used proxies to buy some of these properties.
With all of these controversial allegations, Idris has since been suspended by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed.
In a letter dated May 18, 2022, the minister said the suspension “without pay” was to allow for “proper and unhindered investigation” in line with public service rules.
“Following your recent arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on allegations of diversion of funds and money laundering, I write to convey your suspension from work without pay effective 18th May 2022,” the letter read in part.
The suspension, Finance Minister said, is in line with Public Service Rules to give room for proper and unhindered investigation.
The letter, titled, ‘Letter of Suspension’, also bars Idris from visiting his office or contacting any official in his office during his suspension except for disciplinary proceedings that might be initiated against him.
Prior to his appointment as Accountant-General, Idris had served as Director of Finance and Accounts at the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) headquarters, Abuja. His rich profile shows he is a chartered accountant with over two decades of working experience.
He joined the public service as Assistant Director Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) in charge of Financial Analysis in 2000. He was at the National Poverty Eradication Programme(NAPEP), Ministry of Police Affairs and Ministry of Interior as Assistant Director Finance. He was Deputy Director in the Federal Ministry of Interior and Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) before his promotion as Director Accounts in OAGF in 2011.
Idris, born on November 25, 1960, is a 1984 BSc Accounting graduate of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, Idris obtained Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from Bayero University Kano and Master of International Affairs and Diplomacy (MIAD) from ABU Zaria.
He was specifically first appointed on June 25, 2015, as the country’s Accountant-General. He was re-appointed on June 25, 2019.
Idris is a Fellow of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria and Fellow, the Association of Financial Analysts of Nigeria, he is Member of other professional bodies including the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, Certified Institute of Cost Management of Nigeria, and Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.
Despite all of these enviable antecedents, it is quite ironic that Idris fell for the temptations attached to his office, and now he is left with a stained record.
