…Minister suspends Accountant-General under probe for N80b fraud
Lagos—A former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr. Nsima Ekere has been taken into custody by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in connection with the mismanagement of N47 billion contracts awarded between 2017 and 2019, TheNation newspaper reports.
Also yesterday, Accountant-General of the Federation (AG-F) Ahmed Idris, arrested on Monday over alleged misappropriation of N80 billion, was suspended from office.
It was learnt that Ekere, who got wind of a close-up on him by the anti-graft agency, voluntarily reported at the Lagos Zonal Office of the commission.
A top source said: “This commission is investigating the alleged diversion of N47 billion through registered contractors of the NDDC. Some phoney contracts were allegedly awarded for diversion purposes.
“Ekere is undergoing interrogation and we have detained him.”
The source added: “I think he got hints of surveillance on him and voluntarily reported to the EFCC’s office in Lagos.”
Read also: Group hails Akpabio’s resignation, urges Buhari to appoint NDDC substantive board
Finance Budget and National Planning Minister Mrs. Zainab Ahmed announced the AG-F’s suspension.
The AG-F, who was arrested on Monday in Kano was moved to the agency’s Abuja Head Office for interrogation.
The memo dated May 18, said the suspension became necessary “to allow for proper and unhindered investigation into the serious allegations in line with Public Service Rules 030406”.
Mrs. Ahmed said in the suspension letter: “Following your recent arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on allegations of diversion of funds and money laundering, I write to convey your suspension from work without pay effective 18th May, 2022.
“During this period, you are not expected to attend to your place of work or contact any official in your office except for any disciplinary hearing that may be advised.”
The letter also warned the suspended AG-F that, “it is expected that you will strictly comply with any instructions that will be forwarded to you in your current location or your known recorded address as stipulated in the extant rules.”
