Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Sunday arrested a former Governor of Zamfara State, Abdul’Aziz Yari over his connection with the ongoing investigations into the N84 billion fraud involving the suspended Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris.
Yari and the Chairman of a firm, Finex Professional Services, were arrested around 5 pm on Sunday over a N22 billion deal connected with the AGF fraud case, according to a report by the Punch.
An anonymous operative of the commission was quoted by the paper as saying, “On May 29, the EFCC arrested a former governor of Zamfara State, Yari, and Anthony Yaro, Chairman and Managing Director of Finex Professional for their alleged role in N84bn fraud involving former Accountant General of the Federation.
“Yari who was picked up at about 5 pm allegedly benefited to the tune of N22 billion through Finex Professional, from the N84 billion which the former AGF paid one Akindele.”
The EFCC Spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, did not respond to calls on Sunday.
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The Accountant-General was arrested about two weeks ago for approving some bogus contracts.
“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,” the anti-graft agency said.
The commission said that its operatives traced at least 17 properties to Idris.
An official of the EFCC, who wished to remain anonymous, said the properties traced to Idris are located in Kano, Lagos, Abuja, Dubai and London.
He, however, said preliminary investigations showed that the nation’s chief accountant allegedly used proxies to buy some of these properties. The commission would therefore need to invite some of the proxies of the accountant-general.
Former Governor Yari, who just won a senatorial ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State, has been under investigation for the last five years for allegedly diverting billions of naira from the Paris Club refunds. Some of the funds have been forfeited to the Federal Government.
