How Suspended AGF Collected N15 Billion Bribe - EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has uncovered how the suspended Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Ahmed Idris collected a N15 billion bribe. 

The EFCC said the AGF had received the money as bribe to fast track payments of 13 per cent oil derivation to the oil producing states. 

The federal government had allocated 13 per cent as part of a sharing system that helps develop communities with the resources. 

It was a fund that reaches the communities to state governments in line with the provision of the Nigerian constitution Section 162, Sub-section 2.

According to reports, states such as Delta, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Rivers, Edo, Ondo, Imo, Lagos and Abia states shared N450.60 billion in 2021 in line with the 13 per cent sharing system. 

The EFCC further disclosed that Idris had received a gratification in the sum of N15,136,221,921.46 from one Olusegun Akindele for fast tracking the payment of derivation to the states

The commission added that Akindele was the Technical Assistant to the AGF in 2021.

The embattled Idris is reported to appear before a Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice A. O. Adeyemi tomorrow (Friday).

One of the charges filed against Idris states, "That you, Ahmed Idris between February and December, 2021 at Abuja in the Abuja Judicial Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, being a public servant by virtue of your position as the Accountant General of the Federation accepted from Olusegun Akindele, a gratification in the aggregate sum of N15,136,221,921.46 ( Fifteen Billion, One Hundred and Thirty Six Million, Two Hundred and Twenty One Thousand, Nine Hundred and Twenty One Naira and Forty Six Kobo) which sum was converted to the United States Dollars by the said Olusegun Akindele and which sum did not form part of your lawful remuneration but as a motive for accelerating the payment of 13% derivation to the nine (9) oil producing Sates in the Federation, through the office of the Accountant General of the Federation, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 155 of the Penal Code Act Cap 532 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 and punishable under the same section," as reported Daily Trust.

The AGF is to be arraigned on 14-count charge alongside Akindele and one Mohammed Kudu Usman in addition to Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange Limited.