The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested a former governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari.

Yari was arrested by the EFCC on Sunday over alleged fraud relating to the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P).

The arrest of the former governor was confirmed by an official of the commission.

According to the EFCC official, the anti-graft agency also arrested the Chairman and Managing Director of Finex Professional, Anthony Yaro.

Yari was said to have benefited from the fund through the company.

The latest development is coming hours after Yari clinched the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to represent Zamfara West Senatorial District in the 2023 general election.

A N20 billion “SURE-P refund” was said to have been set up by the suspended Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, to move money to Yari.

Idris was arrested by the anti-graft agency on May 16 in connection with the diversion of funds and money laundering activities to the tune of N80 billion.

He was later suspended indefinitely by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed via a letter dated May 18, 2022.

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The minister stated that the suspension was to allow for “proper and unhindered investigation” in line with public service rules.

Speaking on the arrest of Idris, the anti-graft agency said: “The Commission’s verified intelligence showed that the AGF raked off the 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.

“Mr. Idris was arrested after failing to honour invitations by the EFCC to respond to issues connected to the fraudulent acts,” Wilson Uwujaren, Head, Media and Publicity, had said in a statement made available to The Star.

The Star