$43million Ikoyi money: Osinbajo’s panel may indict suspended NIA DG

There are indications that the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo led Panel investigating the discovery of large amounts of foreign and local currencies found by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a residential apartment at Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos, and the claims by the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), may indict the suspended Director-General, Ayo Oke.

The Osinbajo led committee which is due to submit its report this week as it was given14 days to complete its assignment, is said to have found some discrepancies in the claims and reports from the suspended NIA DG.

The committee which has the the National Security Adviser to the President Babagana Mongunu and the Attorney General of the Federal, Abubakar Malami as members have since grilled the suspended NIA, the Acting DG, some directors in the NIA, Juilius Berger and the Central Bank Governor.
A source who should know disclosed that from the foregoing, the $43million was kept away from the President and the NSA. The source who pled anonymity because the committee is yet to complete its findings said Oke actually submitted a report which contained details of $289 million approved by the immediate past President Goodluck Jonathan for some security infrastructure and covert operations.

The report, listed 9 different projects some of which are still ongoing. According to the source, the nine projects tallied with the $289million, so the $43million was a surprise.

“If the projects on the ground blended with the money approved, what other possible ways could he (Oke), have made the $43 million?” the source who is a government official asked also querying why the money which was assumed to be part of the $289 was found in a private apartment. According to the source, the intelligence community believes that the money found by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC may have emanated from the president Jonathan’s campaign largess and the NIA DG may latter face anti-graft charges .

“This money ($289m) was given for critical infrastructure and covert operations.

” Now, when did he (DG, NIA) make this disclosure? ONSA has set up a committee on Audit of Defence Equipment procurement.

“Audit panel stumbled on records of huge cash movement and raised questions.

” Ambassador Oke rushed and said it was normal for covert operations.

“NSA established a separate panel to investigate the veracity of that claim.

“According to the report, there are ongoing projects in Lagos and
Abuja, nine of them. Some completed, some ongoing.

” He fully accounted for them. The problem is that they were not told that there was an apartment in Ikoyi. This money must be outside. So, where did the $43 million come from?

“The sense is that the money was campaign money. It was not covered by the report he gave to the ONSA”, the source explained.

 

ELIZABETH ARCHIBONG