Yari arrested over ‘N22bn SURE-P fraud’ linked to suspended accountant-general – EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested a former governor of Zamfara state, Abdulaziz Yari.

The report on Yari’s arrest by the EFCC comes hours after he secured the ticket of the All Progressives Congress to represent Zamfara West Senatorial District in the 2023 general election.

The former governor, according to The Cable, was arrested over alleged fraud relating to the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme.

A N22bn ‘SURE-P refund’ was allegedly cooked up by Ahmed Idris, the suspended accountant-general, to move money to Yari.

Arrested along with Yari is the chairman and managing director of Finex Professional, Anthony Yaro, for their alleged role in the alleged N84bn fraud involving Idris.

Yari allegedly benefited to the tune of N22bn through Finex Professional from the N84 billion which the former Idris allegedly paid one Akindele.

The anti-graft agency had also said Idris failed to respond to invitations by the commission to answer questions over the allegation.

“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,” the EFCC had said in a statement.

Yari’s arrest comes days after Idris was arrested by EFCC operatives over alleged misappropriation of funds amounting to N84 billion.

Days after Idris’ arrest, the minister of finance, Zainab Ahmed, announced the suspension of the accountant-general.

The finance minister had said the suspension, which was “without pay”, was to allow for “proper and unhindered investigation” in line with public service rules.