AFRICA LAW & JUSTICE

NIGERIA’S ACCOUNTANT-GENERAL ARRESTED ON CORRUPTION CHARGES

NIGERIA’S ACCOUNTANT-GENERAL ARRESTED ON CORRUPTION CHARGES
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Ekeomah Atuonwu

The country’s accountant-general Mr. Ahmed Idris has been arrested, accused of stealing millions of dollars from government coffers.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission said in a statement Monday that Ahmed Idris was arrested “in connection with fund diversion and money laundering activities totaling N80 billion ($192.4 million).” SEE TWEET BELOW:

Nigeria has the largest economy in Africa, but its development has been hampered by widespread corruption, according to experts.

Many public officials are being investigated for alleged corruption, some even after they have left office.

Idris oversaw government accounts and administered the state treasury as Nigeria’s accountant-general.

According to the financial crimes agency, he “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,” according to the agency. It went on to say that Idris did not respond to its requests for him to respond to the charges, which led to his arrest. He has yet to be charged in court.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission logo – Nigeria /Courtesy/

The date Idris allegedly diverted the funds was not specified by prosecutors. Idris has been the accountant-general of Nigeria since 2015, when he was appointed by Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Associated Press was unable to obtain an immediate response from him to the allegations. Buhari, who has been in power since 2015, has vowed to fight corruption, but he has been accused of shielding some corrupt officials. He pardoned over 150 convicts in April, including two former governors imprisoned for corruption.

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Ekeomah Atuonwu

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