Osinbajo’s committee invites Julius Berger, NIA directors

The Vice President Yemi Osinbajo-led committee charged to investigate the suspended director-general of the National Intelligence Agency, Ayodele Oke, on Monday continued its proceedings, with the invitation of the Julius Berger Construction Company.

The committee also invited the acting director-general of the National Intelligence Agency, and five other directors, to tell what they know about the recovered loot.

The committee also has the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and the National Security Adviser, Babagana Moguno, as members.

Part of the tasks of the committee is to investigate why the NIA, Nigeria’s Foreign Security agency kept $43.4m, N23m and £27,000 (N13bn) in a house in Ikoyi. The money was seized by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, following a tip-off from a whistle-blower.

BusinessDay gathered that Julius Berger Construction Company was invited to give its account of the jobs it has done so far, following claims that the German construction company has handled almost all the construction jobs executed by the Oke administration of the NIA.

Official sources also said Julius Berger was currently handling a project to reconstruct the NIA’s guest house in Lagos, a project in-house sources claim is to gulp some part of the money.

As at the time of filing this report, the embattled NIA DG was still being grilled, as his session lasted for more than an hour. BusinessDay gathered that all the five directors that were invited alongside the Acting DG of the NIA were grilled one after the other, behind closed doors.

Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ibrahim Magu was the first to appear before the committee to give full details of the agency’s findings at the first meeting on Friday.

The committee is also saddled with the responsibility of investigating the allegations of violations of law and due process, made against theSecretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), David Babachir Lawal, in the award of contracts under the Presidential

Initiative on the North East (PINE).

In a related development facts emerged on Monday that the House of Representatives is to conduct independent investigation into the $43.4 million found in an apartment in Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos.

BusinessDay gathered that the leadership of the House has already endorsed a motion of urgent national importance on resumption from the Easter recess.

“The motion should have been considered on Tuesday but with the sad incident of the death of Senator Isiaka Adeleke, the House may adjourn plenary tillWednesday, after which the motion will be considered, giving its importance to the economy.

“It’s a national issue that should not be left to the Executive arm, since we have the statutory backing to expose and investigate corruption as enshrined in section 88(2a) and section 89 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended),” one of the lawmakers told our Correspondent.

Meanwhile, feelers from the National Assembly showed that the 2017 Appropriations bill may not be passed before the end of April 2017 as promised by the leadership of the House of Representatives.

Responding to BusinessDay’s inquiry, Abdulrazak Namdas (APC-Adamawa) who had penultimate week assured that the budget will be passed after resumption from the Easter recess, however noted that the 2017 budget will be passed between two and three weeks.

Namdas who noted that the 2016 Appropriations Act which was signed into law on the 4th May, 2016, argued that it will elapse on the 31st May, 2017.

Elizabeth Archibong and KEHINDE AKINTOLA