Other defendants are Olusegun Akindele; Mohammed Usman and Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange Limited.

They were first arraigned on July 22 before a vacation judge, Justice Adeyemi Ajayi, on a 13-count charge bordering on misappropriation ofN109.5bn.

However, upon the resumption of the court, the case was transferred to Justice Yusuf Halilu.

They all pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against them.

Following their not-guilty plea, counsel for Idris, Chris Uche (SAN), prayed the court to allow the defendants to continue to enjoy the earlier bail granted them by the court on July 28

He submitted that they have been complying with their bail conditions.

Counsel for other defendants aligned themselves with Uche’s application and submission.

The EFCC counsel, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, did not object to the application.

He, however, left the decision to the court to exercise its discretion.

Ruling on the application, Justice Halilu held that bail is a constitutional right of a defendant.

He, however, directed that defendants submit their passports to the court’s registrar.

The judge added that if the documents are with the prosecution, they should pass the same to the registrar.

Justice Halilu adjourned the case until November 23 for hearing.

The EFCC allegations include that between February and December 2021 Idris accepted from Akindele, a gratification of N15. 1bn as a motive for accelerating the payment of 13 per cent derivation to the nine oil-producing states in the federation, through the office of the Accountant General of the Federation.

The anti-graft agency also alleged that N84. 3bn from the Federal Government’s account was converted by the first and second defendants between February and November 2021.

This is coming barely a week after the court remanded the former AGF in prison.

In his judgement, the presiding judge, Justice Adeyemi Ajayi, adopted all the terms and conditions of the administrative bail the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission earlier gave the ex-AGF and his two co-defendants.

“In line with the due process and supremacy of the law, the Defendants are still entitled to bail, irrespective of the enormity of the allegations against them.

“The EFCC did not in any of its processes, stated that the Defendants misbehaved while on administrative bail”, Ajayi ruled.

He was arraigned on 14 counts bordering on conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, and money laundering.

Trial Justice A.O. Adeyemi Ajayi who remanded the suspended AGF and other defendants in the matter, said they remain in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service till Wednesday when their bail applications would be heard.

Idris was arraigned alongside three others on a 14-count of stealing and criminal breach of trust to the tune of N109, 485,572,691.9.

Others arraigned alongside Idris are Godfrey Olusegun Akindele, Mohammed Kudu Usman and Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange Limited.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had in a statement on Thursday, said Count one of the charge reads: “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 virtue of 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”.

Count eight reads: “That you, Ahmed Idris while being the Accountant General of the Federation and Godfrey Olusegun Akindele while being the Technical Assistant to the Accountant General of the Federation between February and November 2021, at Abuja in the Abuja Judicial Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, in such capacity, entrusted with certain property, to wit: N84,390,000,000 (Eighty-Four Billion, Three Hundred and Ninety Million Naira) committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property when you dishonestly received the said sum from the Federal Government of Nigeria through Godfrey Olusegun Akindele trading under the name and style of Olusegun Akindele & Co., and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code Act Cap 532 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990”.

The Ad Hoc Committee on Assessment and Status of All Recovered Loot, Movable and Immovable Assets from 2002 to 2020 by Agencies of Federal Government of Nigeria for Effective/Efficient Management and Utilisation is to hold an investigative hearing on Monday.

Chairman of the committee, Mr Adejoro Adeogun, had last week laid an interim report by the committee.

Among those to appear before the committee on Monday are the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN); Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed; National Security Adviser, Major-General Babagana Monguno (retd.); Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris; and the Auditor General of the Federation, Adolphus Aghughu.

Others are the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Navy, National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Central Bank of Nigeria; Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority; Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption; and commercial banks.

Also to appear before the lawmakers are the Association of Bureau de Change Operators of Nigeria; Chairman of the disbanded Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property; Chairman of the disbanded Pension Reform Task Team; former Ministers of Justice; former National Security Advisers; former chairmen of EFCC; former chairmen of ICPC; former Inspectors General of Police; former Comptrollers General of Customs; former Commandants General of NSCDC.

The rests are Mr Ngozika Ihuoma, MD, Crincad & Cari Nigeria Limited; Mr Dipo Fatokun, CBN’s Director of Banking Services; Mr Abubakar Animasaun, EFCC’s Account Department; Mr Abdullahi Ibrahim, a member of staff at EFCC; Mr Mukhtar Bello, also of the EFCC; the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre; Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project; Human and Environmental Development Agenda; BudgIT; non-governmental organisations and Civil Society Organisations.

According to the Accountant-General of the Federation Ahmed Idris, the amount spent so far represents 84% of the N36.3 billion public funds and donations received to respond to COVID-19 between 1st April 2020 and 31st July 2020.

In the statement released by the  Accountant-General of the Federation in response to the Freedom of Information request dated August 10, 2020, and sent to him by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and Connected Development (CODE), it was gathered that there is now a balance of N5.9 billion from the donation.

Military allays fears of possible attacks by Boko Haram members in Abuja and environs

Read the statement below “The Defence Headquarters wish to reassure residents of FCT and other adjoining States that the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies have been on red alert to combat crime and ensure effective surveillance of the Federal Capital Territory and other states of the country. This is an imperative sequel to a purported memorandum from the Nigeria Customs Service warning its staff on a possible attack on the FCT. The Armed Forces of Nigeria working together with other security and response agencies particularly the core intelligence agencies hereby assure the general public that preventive and preemptive intelligence is ongoing. The general public is thus advised to go about their lawful businesses undeterred. 2. Furthermore, the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies wish to assure the general public that the offensives against the common enemies of this Nation will not cease until normalcy is restored in all parts of the country. Hence, the general public is equally enjoined to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity accordingly”