The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday insisted that it never promised the former Accountant General of the Federation (AG-F) Ahmed Idris that he would not be prosecuted should he volunteer necessary information on the alleged N109billion fraud case involving him.
An EFCC official, Abdulhamid Isa Muri, attached to its Kano Command, told a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama that there was no truth in the claim by Idris.
Muri said he was only instructed to accept some documents from Idris and take his statement when he (Idris) reported at the Kano Command of the EFCC on June 10, 2022.
The witness said Idris volunteered his statement and was allowed to go. He said the ex-AG-F was never detained in the Kano facility of the commission.
Led in evidence by prosecuting lawyer, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, Muri featured as the third prosecution witness in the trial-with-trial to ascertain the voluntariness or otherwise of the about 10 statements written by Idris to investigators.
On Idris’ claim that his statement was a product of a promise that he would not be prosecuted, the witness said: “It is not true. I am not the investigating officer. I was only directed to take his statement. That is all.”
Under cross-examination by Idris’ lawyer, Chris Uche (SAN), Muri said he was not a member of “the Chairman Monitoring Unit 2 that investigated the case.
He added: “I was not also the IPO in the matter,” noting that his signature is not contained in the statement Idris made in Kano.
After Muri’s testimony, Atolagbe announced the closure of the prosecution’s case in the trial-within-trial.
Justice Halilu Yusuf adjourned till October 29 for Idris to open his defence in the trial-with-trial.
Idris, his former Technical Assistant, Godfrey Olusegun Akindele; a director in the office of the AG-F, Mohammed Kudu Usman, and Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange Limited (said to be owned by Idris) are being prosecuted by the EFCC on a 14-count charge bordering on stealing and criminal breach of trust to the tune of N109billion.