Oke
Ebun Francis || Ayo Oke, the embattled Director General of The National Intelligence Agency was Wednesday barred from entering Aso Rock by security men. Oke arrived shortly after his suspension was made public. All efforts he made to see the Vice President, Prof. Yomi Osinbajo was rebuffed by security agents who politely turned him back.
It will be recalled that President Mohammed Buhari, earlier Wednesday suspended Oke and the Secretary to the Government of the federation, Babachir Lawal pending the outcome of investigations into allegations of corruption leveled against them.
Femi Adesina, the presidential spokesman disclosed their suspension in a statement.
It will be recalled that the senate had called for the resignation of Lawal after its committee on the humanitarian crisis in the north-east indicted him of corruption in December last year.
Lawal
The statement read, “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 Northeast (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 statement read.
“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.
“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.”
