Suspended AGF Got N15bn Bribe To Fast-track Payment To Oil-Producing States – EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has accused the former Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Ahmed Idris, of receiving N15 billion bribe to fast-track 13% derivation funds to oil-producing states.

The 13% derivation fund is a benefit-sharing system that helps communities get funds meant for development.

The fund comes from the federation revenue to oil-producing communities through the state governments as enshrined in section 162, sub-section 2 of the Nigerian constitution.

The nine oil-producing states in Nigeria shared N450.60 billion from the federation account through the 13 per cent derivation formula in 2021.

The states are Delta, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Rivers, Edo, Ondo, Imo, Lagos and Abia.

The anti-graft agency claimed that the suspended AGF accepted the sum of N15,136,221,921.46 from Olusegun Akindele, his Technical Assistant for accelerating the payment of 13% derivation to the states.

Naija News had earlier reported that the EFCC would arraign Idris before Justice A.O. Adeyemi Ajayi of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja on Friday.

The charges read, “That you, Ahmed Idris between February and December 2021 at Abuja in the Abuja Judicial Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, being a public servant by your position as the Accountant General of the Federation accepted from Olusegun Akindele, a gratification in the aggregate sum of N15,136,221,921.46 ( Fifteen Billion, One Hundred and Thirty-Six Million, Two Hundred and Twenty One Thousand, Nine Hundred and Twenty One Naira and Forty-Six Kobo) which sum was converted to the United States Dollars by the said Olusegun Akindele and which sum did not form part of your lawful remuneration but as a motive for accelerating the payment of 13% derivation to the nine (9) oil producing States in the Federation, through the office of the Accountant General of the Federation, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 155 of the Penal Code Act Cap 532 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 and punishable under the same section.”