More trouble as top government officials face suspension over N13b Ikoyi loot
- There are indications that top government will be suspended in connection with N13 Ikoyi loot
- President Buhari had ordered a top level investigation headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo
- The SGF, Babachir Lawal and DG NIA, Ayo Oke were suspended on Wednesday April 19
Several top government officials may be suspended soon in connection with the N15 billion hauled from a private apartment at Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos.
President Muhammadu Buhari Wednesday April 19 suspended Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ayo Oke for holding on to the fund for two years without disclosing it.
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Daily Trust reports that President Buhari also ordered a top level investigation headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
Acting Chairman EFCC, Ibrahim Magu
NAIJ.com gathered that a source hinted on Sunday April 23 that some other government officials had been linked to the issue. The president has told the committee no one should be spared.
The three-man panel is to unravel the circumstances in which the NIA came into the possession of the fund. The panel will also unravel how and by whose or which authority such fund was made available to the agency, and whether or not there had been a breach of the law or security procedure in obtaining custody and use of the fund.
The source disclosed that the panel had “compelling reasons” to invite top officials for questioning.
The source, who is close to the panel, however, declined naming the affected officials.
According to him, the panellists were shocked at the evidence presented to them last Friday April 21 by the acting chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, whose operatives recovered the money.
“Names of many top government officials have been mentioned in respect of the money found at an apartment in Ikoyi. The panel has compelling reasons to invite all of them for interrogation. But beyond that, those officials are going to be suspended soon. Mr President will not spare anyone involved,” he said.
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The panel is also investigating the allegations of violations of law and due process made against the suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, in the award of contracts under the Presidential Initiative on the North-East.
The two other panellists are the National Security Adviser Babagana Monguno and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.
The panel has two weeks to submit its report to the president.
Osinbajo’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, had, in a statement Saturday, assured that the panel would conduct its assignment with utmost diligence and without fear or favour.
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Akande had also said that not only would the panel invite all relevant officials and private individuals who might be connected to both cases, but would also obtain and scrutinize documents that “may throw some light on the issues raised in both cases.”
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