N109bn fraud: Court admits fresh evidence against ex-AGF

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in the Maitama area of Abuja, on Thursday, February 1, 2024, admitted new evidence against the former Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Ahmed Idris, in a trial-within-trial.

Idris, who is the first defendant in a 14-count charge bordering on gratification, abuse of office, and money laundering to the tune of over N109 billion, is standing trial alongside three others – his company, Godfrey Olusegun Akindele, and Mohammed Kudu Usman

The former AGF, on Thursday, told the court that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) obtained his statement under duress, necessitating a trial-within-trial to determine the veracity of his claim.

The first prosecution witness, Hayatuddeen Ahmad, informed the court that Idris freely volunteered his statement to the EFCC and was neither pressured nor deceived to do so.

Also contrary to Idris’s claim, Ahmad disclosed that at no time was the defendant promised that he would not be prosecuted by the anti-graft agency.

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Under cross-examination by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), the witness said: “There was no such deception of promise made to the first defendant. After he was cautioned, he was told that the matter would end up in court.

“The defendant came with his legal representative in the person of Gbenga Adeyemi, who witnessed the statement from beginning to the end. He signed to show that he understood the cautionary statement.”

The witness added that Idris’ statement “was recorded in the Chairman’s Monitoring Unit, (CMU), with a functional recording system and a chair for the convenience of the defendant. There was a table, light, and the restroom.”

He stated that “after the first defendant reported, cautionary words were written and administered to him, which he read and understood. The additional statement was in continuation of some of the issues involving investigation.”

Ahmad further told the court that the recording was done using his official Samsung mobile phone, after which the video was processed into a DVD plate.

The presiding judge, Justice Yusuf Halilu, admitted the DVD in evidence.

Justice Halilu, therefore, adjourned the matter till March 20, 2024, for the continuation of the trial-within-trial.

The Star