EFCC detains Zulum’s aide over post allegedly linking lawmaker to Accountant-General in N174b fraud saga
By Paul Michael
Borno Zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has reportedly invited and detained Abdullahi Yusuf, senior special assistant to Governor Babagana Zulum, for questioning over a Facebook post.
Abdullahi had, on May 29, published a post saying it was rumoured that a prominent federal lawmaker from Borno may be linked to the N174 billion fraud case involving the suspended Accountant-General of the federation, Ahmed Idris.
Although the aide did not name the lawmaker, supporters of Muktari Betera, a member representing Biu federal constituency, went under the post to allege that he was referring to the lawmaker.
On May 30, Abdullahi, in a bid to provide more clarification on his post, again took to Facebook to explain what he meant.
“I did not mention any name. Unfortunately, some supporters of one particular lawmaker started raining all sorts of insults and threat directed at me. I only posted it because it was a trending issue.
“I never in anyway mentioned any name. I just reposted it the way I read it. If anyone feels offended, let the person rest assured that it was not intended for any malice. I just saw a trending issue online and shared it,” he said.
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Abdullahi was then said to have received an invitation from the EFCC zonal office in Maiduguri.
He was reported to have arrived the EFCC office the next day and asked to provide the source of the information he shared on Facebook.
The aide, however, reportedly said he picked the post randomly from Facebook and flagged it as a rumour being made by others which was misinterpreted.
Abdullahi was said to have been detained afterwards despite efforts by family members to get him released, as the zonal head insisted that he was following a directive from the EFCC headquarters.
However, when contacted, Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC spokesman, told newsmen that he was yet to get information on the matter.
“I will find out. I don’t have the report,” he said.
Recall that the suspended Accountant-General has been released from detention by the anti-graft agency.
Uwujaren, while confirming his release said, “The suspended Accountant-General is out on bail. He was released last night (Wednesday).”
Idris was arrested by operatives of the EFCC on May 16, 2022, in connection with a series of frauds that was initially thought to be N84 billion.
Three days after his arrest, Idris was suspended by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, to enable him face his probe.
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