As the probe into corruption allegation against suspended Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Ahmed Idris continues, indications are rife that a good number President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet members are consumed.
With the rate of discoveries by Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the number of big shots in Buhari’s administration that may be consumed, are increasing on daily basis.
A highly placed source in the anti-corruption circle has informed Economic Confidential, that the total sum in the series of coordinated scams traced to the AGF is up to N200 billion.
He added that too many people in the cabinet, including elected office holders at national and state levels, heads of agencies and parastatals and senior civil servants are neck-deep in the coordinated scam.
Recall that Idris was arrested by the EFCC on May 16 in connection with a series of fraud that was initially thought to be in the region of N80 billion and has volunteered a lot of information regarding the personalities involved in the alleged sleaze.
Recall too that after Idris suspension by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Idris, to enable him face his probe, an overseeing AGF, one Mr Anamekwe Nwabuoku was also discovered to be neck deep in similar scandal.
According to credible sources familiar with his antecedents, the EFCC is also investigating him for a series of graft allegations and Nwabuoku is known to visit the headquarters on a regular basis as part of the investigation routine.
Some of the allegations against him include overpayment to himself in previous MDAs he served and some of the properties he acquired fraudulently are being recovered by anti-corruption agencies.
One of the sources informed Economic Confidential that his major financial crime was allegedly committed while he was the Director of Finance and Accounts at the Ministry of Defense where he was said to have enriched himself with internal security funds.
He was allegedly involved in other fraudulent activities and using the Government Integrated Financial Management System (GIFMIS) to steal the salaries of federal government staff.
Our source told us that what has been unearthed and made public in the while of AGF Idris scandal, is infinitesimal compared to what is coming.
According to the source, since the commencement of the entire investigations, Idris’ confessional statements, traces of the funds, withdrawals and deposits in local and foreign currencies, have reportedly led to the arrest of former governor of Zamfara state, Abdulaziz Yari, who like Idris, is still in EFCC custody at the time of filing this report.
Also arrested on Sunday in connection with the investigation was the Chairman and Managing Director of Finex Professional, Anthony Yaro.
The findings so far, the source said, will lead to more arrests.
The source further said that as the investigation progresses, a lot of powerful and influential figures in this administration have been fingered to have benefitted from the diversion of N200 billion.
He added that the EFCC would soon swoop on those suspects for interrogation and prosecution.
By Economic Confidential
