Secret Details Of The Billions Recovered In Ikoyi By EFCC

The over N13billion 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.
The total value of the cash at Central Bank of
Nigeria official exchange rate is over N13 billion.
What are the secret details? Inside sources
revealed 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.
“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 told PT. “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
and directed his men to proceed with the
operation as he had no security information
backing the claim.
A frustrated Mr. Oke was said to have rushed to
National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno,
and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to complain,
and the huge embarrassment he had caused his
otherwise extremely quiet and secretive agency.
Presidency sources said Mr Oke met President
Buhari in company of 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 document his
complaints and then reapply for the seized
funds.
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 NIA confirmed to PT that the cash
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.