The $43,449,947, £27,800 and
N23,218,000 recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
from an Ikoyi apartment in Lagos was a discreet allocation released to the
National Intelligence Agency (NIA) for major but covert security projects,
PREMIUM TIMES has learnt.
The total value of the money
at the Central Bank of Nigeria official exchange rate is over N13 billion.
Presidency and security
sources told this newspaper on Friday that former President Goodluck Jonathan
approved the funds for the 30-year old secret service agency after its immediate
past Director General, Olaniyi Oladeji, alerted him to the need for some
“crucial and covert security projects”.
The funds were later released
in cash directly from the Central Bank of Nigeria as a way of making its
spending completely secret, this newspaper was told.
“The projects are scattered
across the country, but there is a major one in Lagos being funded with the
cash warehoused in the Ikoyi building,” one source said. “The spending on the
projects cannot be subjected to the usual expenditure process, and that is why
the funds are held in cash. If you like, you can call it illegal projects in
the national interest.”
Our sources said only relevant
top government officials and of the NIA are aware of the projects.
One official said when the incumbent
Director General of the NIA, Ayodele Oke, was alerted that EFCC operatives had
swooped on the apartment, being discreetly guarded by covert operatives, he
rushed to the anti-graft agency’s headquarters in Abuja to advise its chairman,
Ibrahim Magu, to withdraw his men as the funds belonged to government.
At the time, about 13 police
officers and some soldiers, accompanied by photographers and videographers, had
broken into the apartment, and were already dismantling the safes in which the
funds were concealed, our sources said.
Mr. Magu however declined Mr.
Oke’s request. Instead, he directed his men to proceed with the operation.
those familiar with the matter said.
A frustrated Mr. Oke was said
to have rushed to the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, and Vice
President Yemi Osinbajo to complain about Mr. Magu’s attitude, and the huge
embarrassment he had caused his otherwise extremely quiet and secretive agency.
On Thursday, presidency
sources said, Mr Oke met President Muhammadu Buhari in company with Attorney
General Abubakar Malami to table the same complaints.
Those who saw the NIA DG
before he was called in to see the president said he had two bulky envelopes
believed to contain paper and audio-visual records of the security projects.
Officials said President
Buhari has since directed Mr. Magu to forward to him detailed report on the
operation. The EFCC boss was also directed to immediately deposit the funds
with the CBN.
On his part, Mr. Oke was asked
to properly document his complaints against Mr. Magu, and then reapply for the
seized funds, our sources said.
A top presidency source said
the President might ask Attorney General Malami to review reports submitted by
the two officials, and then forward appropriate recommendations.
When contacted Friday, the
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said,
“It’s a security issue, and not strictly a presidency issue.”
He directed further enquiries
on the matter to the security agencies involved.
Mr. Oke of the NIA confirmed
to PREMIUM TIMES that the money belongs to his agency, but declined further
comments when asked what the funds were meant for.
“You don’t expect me to tell
you that,” he said.
Contacted Friday, the
spokesperson for the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said he had not been briefed on the
matter.
Attorney General Malami did not
answer or return calls.
The EFCC had on Wednesday
recovered the huge cash from an Osborne Street, Ikoyi apartment in Lagos,
believing it was looted. The anti-graft agency said it
acted following a tip from a whistle-blower. In a ruling on Thursday, Justice Muslim Hassan ordered a temporary forfeiture of the money to the government. He adjourned further proceedings to May 5 for anyone interested or wishing to claim the money or
make a case why it should not be permanently forfeited to government
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