In furtherance of President Muhammadu
Buhari’s directive to the law enforcement agencies to investigate the
former Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).....
Ambassador Ayodele Oke, and the former Secretary to the Government of
the Federation (SGF), Mr. Babachir Lawal, the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC) Wednesday announced that it was inviting Oke
and his wife, Folashade, for questioning.
Oke was sacked as NIA chief by Buhari on
Monday, six months after he was first suspended following the discovery
of $43.45 million in an apartment in Ikoyi, Lagos. He was sacked
alongside Lawal who was involved in a fraud case.
It was later revealed that the apartment in Osborne Towers where the money was discovered was rented in the name of Oke’s wife.
After the discovery of the cash haul,
the EFCC secured a court order to ensure the money was forfeited to the
federal government.
The NIA had admitted owning the money
and said the presidency through the National Security Adviser (NSA),
Babagana Moguno, was briefed on its intelligence operations in the
South-west, for which the intelligence agency had claimed the cash was
intended.
However, a panel led by Vice-President
Yemi Osinbajo had recommended his dismissal after looking into the
circumstances surrounding the cash haul.
The panel submitted its report on August 23, but Buhari did not act on it until last Monday.
Before their appointments were ultimately terminated on Monday, Lawal and Oke had been placed on suspension since April 19.
Before their appointments were ultimately terminated on Monday, Lawal and Oke had been placed on suspension since April 19.
Buhari, in a statement by his
spokesperson, Garba Shehu, on Monday, further directed the
anti-corruption agencies to proceed with their investigation of the
matter.
It was in furtherance of the president’s directives that the EFCC Wednesday asked Oke to appear before it, reported online news site, Premium Times.
It was in furtherance of the president’s directives that the EFCC Wednesday asked Oke to appear before it, reported online news site, Premium Times.
“In furtherance of its investigative
activities to unravel the circumstances surrounding the $43.45 million
cash recovered by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission in Lagos sometime in April 2017, the commission has invited
former Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador
Ayodele Oke and his wife, Folashade Oke,” Wilson Uwujaren, the
commission’s spokesperson said in a statement.
“Mrs. Oke had refused to honour previous
invitations by the commission which resumed its investigation into the
matter, following the federal government’s decision to relieve Mr. Oke
of his position as DG.
“Besides the couple, other suspects are
equally being invited to determine their culpability or otherwise in the
humongous cash, in foreign currencies and naira notes, stashed in a
residential building at Osborne Road, Ikoyi, Lagos,” Uwujaren said.
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