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A former Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Ahmed Idris, on Thursday denied engaging Paul Erokoro (SAN) to represent him at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Headquarters in Abuja.
Idris stated this when he was cross-examined by EFCC counsel Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), in the trial-within-trial ordered by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court.
The court had ordered a trial-within-trial following the objection raised by the ex-AGF’s counsel, Chris Uche (SAN).
Uche objected because Idris’ statements the prosecution sought to tender on November 23, 2022 were made on the grounds of deception and inducement.
The commission arraigned Idris alongside Geoffrey Olusegun Akindele; Mohammed Kudu Usman and Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange Limited for alleged N109 billion fraud.
They were arraigned on a 14-count -charge of stealing and fraudulent diversion of public funds.
READ ALSO: Ahmed Idris is the new Accountant General
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Jacobs asked Idris whether some lawyers stood as witnesses when he signed some of the statements he made in the EFCC office on different dates between January 22, 2022 and July 5, 2022.
Jacobs names Odudu Etuan from Paul Erokoro Chambers and Haruna Isah, the Director of Legal Services in the Office of Accountant-General of the Federation, Olugbenga Adeyemi as well as Erokoro.
Idris said he doesn’t know Erokoro nor his chambers, although he said the senior advocate of Nigeria contacted him while he was in EFCC custody and canvassed for his engagement but he turned down the request.
” I did not retain the services of Paul Erokoro Chambers in the course of EFCC’s investigation and my family did not engage the services of any lawyers when I was in detention.
” Erokoro came to me while I was in (EFCC) custody, canvassing for his engagement which I didn’t grant,” the ex-AGF stated.
Idris told the court that he made 16 different statements while in EFCC custody and was surprised that the prosecution only brought 13 before the court.
He added that the statements were not made voluntarily.
He was subsequently shown each of the 13 statements in dispute and he confirmed that he made reference to the previous statement when writing each one of them.
Justice Halilu Yusuf, after listening to the argument, adjourned the case till April 21 for continuation of hearing
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