Former Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, has denied retaining Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Paul Erokoro to represent him during the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigation, as stated in testimony before an Abuja court. The denial emerged during cross-examination by EFCC counsel Rotimi Jacobs SAN in a trial-within-trial initiated following an objection from Idris’s legal team.
The trial-within-trial was ordered after Idris’s lawyer, Chris Uche SAN, contested the admissibility of statements Idris made on November 23, 2022, alleging they were procured through deception and inducement. Idris, alongside three co-defendants and a company, faces a 14-count charge before Justice Halilu Yusuf involving the alleged stealing and fraudulent diversion of N109.5 billion in public funds. All parties have pleaded not guilty to the charge, marked CR/199/2022.
Jacobs questioned Idris regarding lawyers present when he signed statements at the EFCC between January 22, 2022, and July 5, 2022. He named Odudu Etuan of Paul Erokoro Chambers, Haruna Isah (Director of Legal Services, Office of Accountant-General), Olugbenga Adeyemi, and Paul Erokoro SAN. Idris explicitly stated he does not know Erokoro or his chambers, recounting that Erokoro approached him in EFCC custody to offer representation, which he rejected. “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,” he testified.
Idris claimed to have made 16 statements in total while in custody, but the prosecution produced only 13, which he asserted were not made voluntarily. Upon reviewing each statement, he confirmed referencing prior versions when drafting subsequent ones. He detailed his initial contact with the EFCC on January 22, 2022, insisting he visited voluntarily without arrest or surety requirements. He further described a private meeting with former EFCC Chairman Abdulrasheed Bawa, alleging Bawa promised non-prosecution if he cooperated, as the investigation targeted ex-Finance Minister Zaynab Ahmed. Idris noted he has not seen the minister charged or her statements submitted in court.
The hearing concludes with Justice Halilu adjourning the trial-within-trial until April 21 for further proceedings, highlighting ongoing legal scrutiny over evidence admissibility in this high-profile corruption case concerning Nigeria’s public funds.
