N80bn fraud: EFCC uncovers 17 properties linked to accountant-general - Newstrends
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N80bn fraud: EFCC uncovers 17 properties linked to accountant-general

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Suspended Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has traced at least 17 properties to the Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, The PUNCH has learnt.

This is just as the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, suspended Idris who is currently being investigated for fraud to the tune of N80bn.

An official of the EFCC, who wished to remain anonymous, said the properties traced to Idris are located in Kano, Lagos, Abuja, Dubai and London.

He, however, said preliminary investigations showed that the nation’s chief accountant allegedly used proxies to buy some of these properties. The commission would therefore need to invite some of the proxies of the accountant-general.

The detective added that from all indications, these properties were purchased while Idris was in office and did not declare them before the Code of Conduct Bureau as stipulated by law.

He added, “About 17 houses in London, Lagos, Kano, Abuja and Dubai have been traced to him. In Abuja, some of the houses are located in serviced estates.”

The EFCC had in a statement on Monday announced the arrest of the accountant-general for fraud to the tune of N80bn.

The statement read in part, “The commission’s verified intelligence showed that the AGF raked off the funds through bogus consultancies and other illegal activities using proxies, family members and close associates. The funds were laundered through real estate investments in Kano and Abuja.”

It was learnt that Idris came under scrutiny last year following allegations that he offered huge sums of money to a family in order to secure the marriage of their 16-year-old daughter.

The uncle of the teenager, Nura Bagudu, had told The PUNCH in an interview that the accountant-general offered properties and gifts to the young lady and her family and had lodged complaints to the Federal Government.

“He told the young lady to go to Abuja and choose any house she wanted and he would buy it for her,” Bagudu had told The PUNCH.

Also, the accountant-general had in 2021 launched Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange Limited which he had openly admitted to owning.

Idris stated this when he received a delegation of Kano Concerned Citizens Initiative led by its late Chairman, Alhaji Bashir Tofa. The project is said to be worth huge sums of money which is far more than his income.

An EFCC official said the legal department was already getting an order to remand the accountant-general and get an interim forfeiture on some of his properties pending the completion of investigations.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government on Wednesday announced the suspension of the accountant-general in order to allow for a seamless investigation.

In a letter conveying Idris’ suspension, the Minister of Finance warned the embattled public official not to visit the office at any time, adding that the suspension was in line with the public service rules.

The letter titled, ‘Letter of Suspension’ read in part, “Following your recent arrest by EFCC on allegations of diversion of funds and money laundering, I write to convey your suspension from work without pay effective May 18, 2022.”

Efforts to get a response from the Spokesman for the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, proved abortive as he did not respond to calls.

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Autopsy Confirms Destiny Boy Died from Toxic Substances

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Afrofuji singer Afeez Adesina, popularly known as Destiny Boy
Afrofuji singer Afeez Adesina, popularly known as Destiny Boy

Autopsy Confirms Destiny Boy Died from Toxic Substances

The tragic death of 22-year-old Afrofuji singer Afeez Adesina, popularly known as Destiny Boy, has been clarified following the release of his official autopsy report. The findings confirm that toxic substances, including tramadol and methamphetamine, were present in his system and played a critical role in his untimely passing.

Destiny Boy passed away on January 17, 2026, a loss that sparked intense speculation on social media, with videos circulating showing his body being transported to a mortuary. These clips fueled public concern and rumours about the circumstances of his death. (pmnewsnigeria.com)

According to the Ogun State Police Command, the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) carried out the autopsy. The toxicology report detected dangerous levels of tramadol, its metabolites, and methamphetamine in Destiny Boy’s body. The official cause of death was determined to be aspiration pneumonitis, a severe lung inflammation resulting from the ingestion of these substances. (lindaikejisblog.com)

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DSP Babaseyi Oluseyi, Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed that at least one suspect has been arrested in connection with the singer’s death and that investigations are ongoing. The police emphasized that the case remains under careful examination to determine all contributing factors.

Destiny Boy, who first gained recognition in 2019 for his Fuji rendition of Davido’s “If”, later covered popular tracks by Tekno, 2Baba, 9ice, and Small Doctor. His original songs, including Lamba, One Transaction, Gbese, Billion Dollar, Mio Gbonkankan, and Lowkey, solidified his rising fame in Nigeria’s music industry. He also welcomed his first child with partner Iremide in November 2024.

The autopsy report has provided much-needed clarity after months of uncertainty and public debate surrounding Destiny Boy’s sudden death, highlighting the dangers of substance misuse among young entertainers. Fans and industry colleagues have expressed deep sorrow while advocating for awareness on drug safety and mental health support in the entertainment industry. (tell.ng)

Autopsy Confirms Destiny Boy Died from Toxic Substances

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DHQ Reveals Over 60% of Terrorist Fighters Not Ideologically Driven

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Brigadier General Yusuf Ali, National Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC)
Brigadier General Yusuf Ali, National Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC)

DHQ Reveals Over 60% of Terrorist Fighters Not Ideologically Driven

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has disclosed that more than 60 percent of terrorists and armed fighters in Nigeria are not motivated by ideology, but are individuals who were coerced, abducted, or caught up in conflict dynamics. The military says this highlights the need for tailored deradicalisation, rehabilitation, and reintegration programmes to address insecurity across the country.

Brigadier General Yusuf Ali, National Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC), revealed during a press briefing in Abuja that many individuals surrendering from armed groups such as Boko Haram and its splinter factions are low-risk combatants often forced into violent networks due to survival, economic pressures, or coercion. According to OPSC data, thousands of former fighters have been successfully rehabilitated and reintegrated into society since the programme’s inception in 2016.

Launched in 2016, Operation Safe Corridor is a federal government-led non-kinetic counter-insurgency programme coordinated by the DHQ in collaboration with agencies including the Ministry of Justice and Nigeria Police. The initiative encourages voluntary surrender, provides deradicalisation training, and facilitates reintegration into civilian life.

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General Ali emphasised that the programme is evolving to address regional realities and cater to the specific needs of affected communities. He said new plans include establishing Victims’ Rehabilitation and Reintegration Camps in the North-West and North-Central regions, such as the DRR camp in Tsafe, Zamfara State, and a planned facility in Benue, to help victims of violent extremism recover from trauma, displacement, and loss.

“The programme is evolving to become more victim-sensitive,” Ali said. “Sustainable peace cannot be achieved if victims of conflict feel neglected. Many live with deep psychological scars, and addressing that trauma is as important as rehabilitating ex-combatants.”

The OPSC Coordinator also stressed that misconceptions about the programme persist. He clarified that OPSC is not amnesty, not a shortcut to evade justice, and not a recruitment pathway into the Armed Forces. The government is working to enhance public understanding through stakeholder engagement, media campaigns, and partnerships with agencies such as the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy on Reconstruction and Rehabilitation.

Experts say that understanding that the majority of fighters are not ideologically committed could help shape more effective deradicalisation and reintegration strategies, addressing root causes like coercion, poverty, lack of education, and social exclusion. The DHQ’s findings underscore the importance of combining military operations with community-focused rehabilitation to achieve lasting peace in conflict-affected regions.

DHQ Reveals Over 60% of Terrorist Fighters Not Ideologically Driven

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Fire Engulfs Yaba Market in Lagos, Traders Suffer Huge Losses

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Fire Engulfs Yaba Market in Lagos

Fire Engulfs Yaba Market in Lagos, Traders Suffer Huge Losses

A major fire outbreak has ravaged a popular market in the Yaba area of Lagos State, destroying shops and goods worth millions of naira and causing panic among traders and residents. The blaze reportedly started in the early hours of Saturday around 3 a.m., quickly spreading across several sections of the market.

Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with thick smoke and flames consuming parts of the market near the Popo section. Traders and locals desperately tried to salvage their belongings, but much of the property was lost in the inferno. Videos circulating on social media captured the intensity of the fire and the frantic efforts of residents to control it.

An eyewitness, identified as Lugar Feliz during a TikTok livestream, said firefighters were on the scene but faced challenges in containing the blaze, with claims that some fire trucks lacked sufficient water. Several social media users on X (formerly Twitter) raised alarms about the incident, sharing videos and updates as the fire spread.

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Traders affected by the fire lamented the financial losses. One resident, Adeoluwa, said he woke up to find shops behind his completely razed, estimating that billions of naira worth of goods may have been destroyed. Other reports suggest that hundreds of traders lost merchandise, highlighting the devastating economic impact on small business owners.

As of now, the cause of the fire remains unknown, and authorities, including the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, have not released an official statement on the full extent of damage or whether there were casualties. The incident adds to a growing trend of market fires in Lagos, often attributed to poor infrastructure, overcrowded stalls, and inadequate fire safety measures.

Affected traders are now calling for improved emergency response systems, better fire safety protocols, and stricter enforcement of safety regulations to prevent future disasters in crowded commercial hubs like Yaba.

Fire Engulfs Yaba Market in Lagos, Traders Suffer Huge Losses

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