Former APC Governor Abdulaziz Yari Arrested over AGF’s N80 Billion Probe
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested former Governor Abdulaziz Yari in connection with the agency’s continuing investigation into Ahmed Idris, the suspended Accountant-General of the Federation.
Mr. Abdulaziz Yari, a former governor of Zamfara State, was detained at his Abuja home on Sunday, just days after winning the ruling APC’s ticket for the Zamfara West senatorial race next year. He ran unchallenged and won. Mr Idris, the AGF under criminal investigation, has been in EFCC custody since May 16 and is facing investigators over claims of N80 billion in corruption.
Investigators are following up on a tip that he allegedly colluded with others to steal public cash that he was supposed to protect as part of his job. Mr Yari, who was arrested today, is one of his accused collaborators, according to EFCC sources.
According to the reports, Mr Idris and Mr Yari engaged in dubious transactions worth “about 20 billion Naira.” Mr. Yari is no stranger to anti-corruption law enforcement. He was regularly detained and questioned by the EFCC last year over claims that he illegally diverted billions of dollars in Zamfara funds stashed in a bank.
Between 2007 and 2019, Mr. Yari served as governor of Zamfara State, a poor state in Nigeria’s northern region. Terrorist outlaws known as bandits began terrorizing villages during his reign.
