The National Intelligence Agency has claimed ownership of a large sum of money found in a private residence in Lagos on Tuesday.
The Director General of the NIA, Ayodele Oke, says the $50 million that was found in an Ikoyi residence by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission belongs to the Agency.
This new claim is the latest twist in the mystery behind the ownership of the money, considering that ownership has been linked to two different persons before the latest claim by the NIA.
A report published in the SaharaReporters noted the following:
“When SaharaReporters called the DG to verify the authenticity of an online publisher’s report that the NIA had claimed ownership of the funds, Mr. Oke said he had not read any report linking the agency to the $50 million in cash the EFCC seized in a raid on an apartment in Ikoyi, Lagos. Mr. Oke told our reporter that he would speak on the matter today saying it was too late in the night and that he had a headache. However, all day today, the DG has not picked up calls from SaharaReporters nor responded to text messages.”
Sources within the EFCC confirmed the NIA’s claims, stating that the agency said the money was intended for some covert operations. The EFCC says it would hold on to the money notwithstanding the NIA’s claim as a court has ordered it (EFCC) to confiscate the money.
The EFCC also said that the office of the Nigeria President has been briefed on the latest discovery. The president was, however, alarmed at the discovery, while ordering that the money be lodged in the Central Bank of Nigeria pending the outcome of investigations.
There are indications that Mr. Oke, DG of the NIA, met with President Buhari on Friday night where he presented documents to reinforce his claims. It was reported that the DG said the money was meant for a project that had been approved by the previous administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.
It was reported that President Buhari directed the DG of the NIA to reapply for funding of the said project while the money be kept in the vaults of the apex bank.
