Court Adjourns Trial-Within-Trial in Ahmed Idris’ N109.5bn Fraud Case to October

Court Adjourns Trial-Within-Trial in Ahmed Idris’ N109.5bn Fraud Case to October

Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, Abuja, has adjourned the trial-within-trial in the alleged N109.5 billion fraud case involving former Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, until October 13, 2026, for the adoption of final written addresses.

Idris is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission alongside Geoffrey Olusegun Akindele, Mohammed Kudu Usman, and Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange Limited on a 14-count charge bordering on alleged stealing and fraudulent diversion of public funds amounting to N109.5 billion.

The court had ordered a trial-within-trial on November 22, 2022, following an application by counsel to the first defendant, Chief Chris Uche (SAN), who argued that statements allegedly made by Idris to the EFCC were obtained through deception and inducement.

At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, the defence presented its witness, Hajiya Safiya Idris, who testified about events surrounding the taking of one of the defendant’s statements at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja on June 6, 2022.

The witness told the court that she had a long-standing relationship with the former Accountant-General and regarded him like a father. She said she visited the EFCC headquarters to see him and was eventually allowed into an office where she was asked by two EFCC officers to sign as a witness to a statement allegedly being written by the defendant.

Safiya confirmed that the signature and handwriting on the document shown to her belonged to her. She, however, claimed she signed the statement after being assured that Idris would be released.

Under cross-examination by prosecution counsel, A.O. Atolagbe, the witness acknowledged that she was neither invited nor investigated by the EFCC and had gone to the commission voluntarily. She also stated that the statement had already been completed before she entered the office and appended her signature.

The witness further admitted that she did not file any complaint after signing the document, despite her reservations, and confirmed that her name did not appear on any other statements made by the defendant because she was not present when they were taken.

Following the conclusion of her testimony, the prosecution raised no further questions, and the witness was discharged.

Defence counsel subsequently informed the court that the defence had closed its case in the trial-within-trial.

Justice Halilu thereafter adjourned proceedings until October 13, 2026, when parties are expected to adopt their final written addresses before the court takes the next step in the matter.

Court Adjourns Trial-Within-Trial in Ahmed Idris’ N109.5bn Fraud Case to October