President Muhammadu Buhari

Segun Atanda/

The whirlwind trailing the discovery of over N15billion in a Lagos apartment and alleged violation of law and due process has claimed its first casualties.

President Muhammadu Buhari has suspended the director-general of Nigeria Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Ayo Oke and the Secretary to the Federal Government, Engineer Babachir David Lawal.

Babachir Lawal

Agents of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) found $43.4million, N23.2million, and £27.8million inside Flat 7B, a four-bedroom apartment at Osborne Towers, 16, Osborne Road in Ikoyi, Lagos on April 12, during a sting operation.

 A statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, says, “President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered an investigation into the allegations of violations of law and due process made against the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr David Babachir Lawal, in the award of contracts under the Presidential Initiative on the North East (PINE).

 
“The President has also directed the suspension of the SGF from office pending the outcome of the investigations.
 
“In a related development, the President has ordered a full scale investigation into the discovery of large amounts of foreign and local currencies by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a residential apartment at Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos, over which the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) has made a claim.
 
“The investigation is also to enquire into the circumstances in which the NIA came into possession of the funds, how and by whose or which authority the funds were made available to the NIA, and to establish whether or not there has been a breach of the law or security procedure in obtaining custody and use of the funds.
Part of the money warehoused in the apartment busted by EFCC today.
 
“The President has also directed the suspension of the Director General of the NIA, Ambassador Ayo Oke, pending the outcome of the investigation.
 
“A three-man Committee comprising the Hon. Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, and the National Security Adviser, headed by the Vice President, is to conduct both investigations.
 
“The Committee is to submit its report to the President within 14 days.
 
“The most senior Permanent Secretary in the SGF’s office, and the most senior officer in the NIA, are to act, respectively, during the period of investigation.”
0

By Dipo

Dipo Kehinde is an accomplished Nigerian journalist, artist, and designer with over 34 years experience. More info on: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dipo-kehinde-8aa98926

One thought on “N15bn Ikoyi Scandal: Buhari Suspends SGF, NIA Chief”
  1. I am suspecting very soon, the name Nigeria would soon be known and officially called “Corrupt Nigeria”. Stealing seems to have been embedded in many Nigerians DNA. I am beginning to smell tragic ending for most identified corrupt politicians and public servants.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *