By Aduragbemi Omiyale
To allow for a “proper and unhindered investigation,” the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, has suspended the embattled Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Mr Ahmed Idris.
Mr Idris was asked to stay from office over his arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday for an alleged N80 billion fraud.
In a statement issued on Monday, the EFCC claimed that the AGF failed to honour invitations sent to him to explain what he knows about the matter, prompting his arrest.
According to the agency, Mr Idris committed the alleged act by taking “funds through bogus consultancies and other illegal activities using proxies, family members and close associates.”
“The funds were laundered through real estate investments in Kano and Abuja,” the statement further stated.
The arrest of the nation’s chief accountant has generated reactions from various quarters, prompting the Minister to suspend him on Wednesday.
In a letter confirming the suspension today, the Minister said the AGF is not expected to have any contact official in his office except for any disciplinary hearing that may be advised and will not receive any salary while on suspension.
Modupe Gbadeyanka