The indictment, on Monday, of Ahmed Idris, the account-general of the federation (AGF), by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for embezzling N80bn from federal government’s coffers, has continued to infuriate Nigerians, THE WITNESS reports.
This is particularly in the light of the ongoing strike action embarked on by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) which has kept students at home for nearly three months and still counting, with many suggesting that the sum allegedly stolen by the AGF would have been enough to meet the demands of the union.
The federal government had reached an agreement with the union to commit N200bn annually for five years for the revitalisation of the country’s education sector, an agreement which it had continued to breach.
The union, which has since insisted on getting concrete commitment from the government in this regard, has continued to down tools, as students of public institutions are destined to lose another academic year.
The AGF, Idris, had maintained that the country did not have funds to meet the demands of the union. However, with the recent revelation by the EFCC, many have taken to social media to express outrage over the audacity of a government official ‘preferring to embezzle N80bn’ while watching schools rot away.
“Yahoo Boy no laptop. How can one man steal N80bn then start building estates up and down Abuja? The money he stole is enough to end ASUU strike,” noted activist and convener of Concerned Nigerians, Deji Adeyanju.
Remarkably, in 2020, ASUU accused Idris of acquiring properties worth billions of naira in Bauchi, but the accusation was ignored by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government.
The ASUU’s Bauchi zone coordinator, Prof. Lawan Abubakar, had in a statement, sought the AGF’s explanation on how he bought Sokoto Hotel in Kano at the sum of N500million and ordered for its immediate demolition to build a multi-billion naira shopping mall.
The union had equally asked the AGF to account for the money he used in acquiring multi-billion naira Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange.
The statement had said: “We would want Gentlemen of the Press to assist us in the conduct of two Investigations.
“The first is to uncover who bought the version of the Sokoto Hotel in Kano with a whopping sum of N500m, cash down, and demolished it the next day for an on-going development of a multi-billion naira shopping mall.
“How and where did he or she get money for such investment?”
“The second assignment is to assist uncover who is hiding to invest multi-billion naira in the Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange.
“How and where did he or she get money for such investment?”
Amid the fresh EFCC revelation, many have taken to social media to blast Idris.
“In January, Ahmed Idris, the accountant general of the federation blasted ASUU for demanding 18 billion naira. Today, he has been arrested by the EFCC for stealing 80 billion naira!” noted Ewo Chidiebere, @IamEwo
“Hardworking people can’t be paid because a few people are busy filling their pockets in secret!”
Another user, M Hasheem, @HashimM77643203, pointed out that while the AGF ‘stole’ N80bn, the academic union was only offered N25bn last year, and asked to share same with other unions.
“Asuu were offered 25B last year while they were on strike and FG ordered them to share that money with NASU and SSANU, Now a sitting accountant-general has pocketted the sum of 80 BILLION NAIRA only him and you dare blame Asuu for fighting over their rights and students right,” Hasheem said.
For Reno Omokri, @renoomokri, former aide to ex-president, Goodluck Jonathan, the revelation should encourage ASUU to continue its strike action until its demands are met.
“Dear ASUU, If the accountant-general of the federation can steal ₦80 billion, you have no reason to end your strike. Ask Buhari to use the stolen ₦80 billion to pay you and keep the change. After all, the money ASUU is asking for is not even up to ₦80 billion!” Omokri said.
On his part, columnist, Gimba Kakanda, @gimbakakanda, noted “80 billion naira stolen by one skinny citizen. This man’s family and allies are probably out there cussing the country for the dysfunctions their principal helps make worse. One day, we are going to contemplate capital punishment for this unforgivable scale of corruption.
Another user, Moh__Abba, @official_Abba, said, “if you are to spend 1nillion naira daily….It will take one 80000 days to spend 80 billion naira…which makes it 219 years to spend such amount of money Thank you accountant-general!”
The EFCC had on Monday, said it arrested Idris over N80bn fraud.
The commission in a statement, said: “On Monday, May 16, 2022, operatives of the EFCC arrested serving accountant-general of the federation, Mr. Ahmed Idris in connection with diversion of funds and money laundering activities to the tune of N80 billion (eighty billion naira) only.
“The commission’s verified intelligence showed that the AGF 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 in Kano and Abuja.
“Mr. Idris was arrested after failing to honour invitations by the EFCC to respond to issues connected to the fraudulent acts.”