EFCC Refutes Claims That It Forced Ahmed Idris To Indict The Former Finance Minister In A N109 Billion Fraud Case

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) detective Mahmud Tukur denied claims that he had given Ahmed Idris, the former accountant general of the Federation, leniency in exchange for his incriminating the former minister of finance and other people.

On February 1, Idris had claimed in front of the Federal Capital Territory High Court that the EFCC had tricked him into acknowledging the charges made against him.

He specifically claimed that the EFCC was trying to use him as leverage to bring charges against the Finance Minister and other governors in relation to derivation funds.

After being charged with 14 counts of theft and criminal breach of trust totaling N109.5 billion, Idris, Godfrey Akindele, Mohammed Kudu Usman, and Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange Limited will go on trial. The EFCC arraigned them in July 2022.

Tukur, the second prosecution witness, refuted any such assurances made to Idris by the commission throughout the trial, in response to objections raised by Idris's attorney, Chris Uche (SAN), disputing the voluntary nature of his remarks to the EFCC.

Under the direction of EFCC attorney Oluwaleke Atolagbe, Tukur insisted that all thirteen of the statements made by Idris and his legal team were given freely. He underlined that the former AGF was questioned in front of his attorneys prior to providing 11 statements at different points in time.

Tukur confirmed that Idris voluntarily offered two of the thirteen confessional confessions, renouncing his right to counsel. 

He said, “Idris signed on the back of the page of the statement sheet and it was witnessed by Barrister Haruna Isa.

“The statement of May 21, 2022, was written by Idris.

“The statement of July 5, 2022, was made by the first defendant in the presence of Gbenga Adeyemi. He was cautioned, interviewed, before those volunteered.”

Under cross-examination from Ahmed Idris's attorney, Chris Uche (SAN), Tukur confirmed that the EFCC obtained statements from suspects in accordance with established protocol.

He explained, “Your honor, Mr. Idris requested to provide his initial statement voluntarily, which was approved at the management level. At that time, he held the position of serving AGF. It was based on his request, your honor.”

Tukur did concede, though, that following Idris's second statement, the EFCC did not issue an invitation letter.

Regarding Idris's statement made in Kano on May 10, 2022, Tukur acknowledged that because he wasn't there, he couldn't verify if it was made with his attorney there.

When questioned if he had promised Idris forgiveness, Tukur angrily rejected the accusation, describing it as a complete fabrication.

He stated, “I never assured him that he wouldn't be prosecuted. I never did so as a unit head, and considering Mr. Idris's seniority as a civil servant, I wouldn't have had the authority to make such promises.”

The trial-within-trial has been postponed till May 15th by the trial judge, Justice Yusuf Halilu.