Alleged N109bn Fraud: Court Adjourns Ex-AGF Ahmed Idris’ Trial Until October

Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Wednesday adjourned proceedings in the trial-within-trial involving former Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, until October 13, 2026, for the adoption of final written addresses.

Idris is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside Geoffrey Olusegun Akindele, Mohammed Kudu Usman and Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange Limited on a 14-count charge bordering on the alleged stealing and fraudulent diversion of public funds amounting to N109.5 billion.

The court had ordered a trial-within-trial on November 22, 2022, after Idris’ counsel, Chief Chris Uche (SAN), challenged the admissibility of statements made by his client to the EFCC. The defence alleged that the statements were obtained through deception and inducement.

At the resumed hearing, Uche informed the court that the defence would present a witness in support of its case.

The witness, Hajiya Safiya Idris, told the court that she had maintained a long-standing family relationship with the former Accountant-General and regarded him as a father figure.

Safiya recounted visiting the EFCC headquarters in Abuja on June 6, 2022, while Idris was in custody. She said she was initially informed that he was not in the detention facility but in the main office complex and was later permitted to enter an office after waiting for some time.

According to her, two EFCC officers identified as Hayatu and Mahmud requested that she sign as a witness to a statement attributed to Idris. She confirmed that the handwriting and signature on the document presented in court belonged to her.

The witness said she signed the document and wrote that the statement was taken in her presence because she had been assured that Idris would be released.

During cross-examination by prosecution counsel, A.O. Atolagbe, Safiya admitted that she was neither invited nor investigated by the EFCC and had visited the commission voluntarily.

She also stated that Idris had completed the statement before she entered the office and that she signed the document after it had already been concluded.

Following the conclusion of her testimony, the witness was discharged, and the defence formally closed its case in the trial-within-trial.

Justice Halilu subsequently adjourned the matter until October 13, 2026, for the adoption of final written addresses by both parties.