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A defence witness in the ongoing trial of former Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, has admitted before the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, Abuja, that he signed the defendant’s statement dated May 17, 2022.
The witness, Haruna Alabi, made the admission on Tuesday during cross-examination by prosecution counsel, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, in a trial-within-trial initiated at the instance of the first defendant.
Idris is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) 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 the trial-within-trial on November 22, 2022, following an application by defence counsel, Chris Uche (SAN), who alleged that his client’s statements were obtained through deception and inducement.
While testifying, Alabi told the court that he visited the EFCC office on May 17, 2022, alongside other directors from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation to see Idris, who was in the Commission’s custody at the time.
Myself and other directors visited him at the EFCC,” he said.
Alabi further disclosed that he was the only lawyer among the visitors and that he signed at the back of the statement made by Idris on the said date.
However, he admitted that he was neither invited by the EFCC nor had any prior interaction with investigators before the visit.
Under further cross-examination, the witness stated that apart from appending his signature, he neither wrote nor signed any other part of the statement.
He also said he could not confirm whether Idris personally made the statement he endorsed.
When confronted with a portion of the statement which read, “The statement was taken freely and I signed,” Alabi insisted he did not lie, maintaining that he was not present when the statement was made.
Earlier, during his evidence-in-chief led by defence counsel, Kanayo Okafor, the witness identified his name and signature on Exhibit B3, the statement dated May 17, 2022.
Justice Yusuf Halilu subsequently adjourned the matter to June 24, 2026, for continuation of the trial-within-trial and directed the first defendant to ensure the presence of all remaining defence witnesses on the next adjourned date.
Witness admits signing ex-AGF Idris statement in N109.5bn trial
