The Minister of Finance Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed has suspended the Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris over an alleged N80 billion fraud and money laundering.
The suspension was contained in a letter by the minister dated May 18, 2022 in which she said the move was necessitated by the need to “allow for proper and unhindered investigation into the serious allegations in line with Public Service Rules 030406.”
During the suspension period, which is without pay, according to the minister, Mr Idris is not “expected to attend to your place of work or contact any official in your Office except for any disciplinary hearing that may be advised.”
The suspension is the latest in the N80 billion scandal involving the Accountant General who was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday, May 16.
Read also: Accountant-General of Federation in EFCC’s den over alleged N80b fraud
Meanwhile, EFCC arrested a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Patricia Etteh over allegation of fraud involving a Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) contract in Akwa Ibom State.
Etteh was arrested on Tuesday by the anti-graft agency in Abuja for questioning.
Etteh was elected Speaker in 2007 but resigned only after a few months amid allegations of financial misappropriation.
She is the only woman in the country’s history to have been elected Speaker.
