Muri, an EFCC staff member responsible for intelligence gathering, surveillance, and undercover operations, narrated his involvement in the case. He described meeting the first defendant, Ahmed Idris, through former Kano Zonal Commander Faruk Dogon Daji, who introduced him to Idris and informed him that Idris had come to submit documents linked to the investigation.
“On June 10, 2022, the first defendant went to our office and met the then Zonal Commander, Mr. Faruk Dogon Daji. Based on this, the Zonal Commander sent for me and told me that the first defendant came to submit some documents linked to the ongoing investigation and that I should take him to my office to write about the documents,” Muri testified.
Muri detailed how he took Idris and his companion, Lawal Badamasi, to his open office, where other EFCC staff members were present. He administered a cautionary statement, informed Idris of his rights, and witnessed Idris voluntarily provide and sign his statement.
When confronted by prosecution counsel A.O. Atolagbe about allegations that the EFCC promised not to prosecute Idris, Muri firmly denied any such promise was made. “It is not true, my Lord; I am not the investigation officer. I was just directed to take his statement,” Muri stated. He further clarified that Idris was not detained at the Kano Zonal Command facility.
After cross-examination by the defense counsel, Justice Halilu Yusuf discharged Muri and adjourned the matter until October 29, 2024, for the defense’s trial-within-trial.
Ahmed Idris is facing 14-count charges of money laundering amounting to N109,485,572,691. The EFCC arraigned him alongside Godfrey Olusegun Akindele, Mohammed Kudu Usman, and Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange Limited on July 22, 2022, at the Federal Capital Territory High Court.
