- Goodluck Jonathan is expected to be questioned by the three-man panel
investigating the recovered Ikoyi monies
- The former president's name has
been linked to it by the NIA
- The CBN governor, Godwin EMefiele, would also be questioned
Former president, Goodluck Jonathan is expected to appear before the
three-man committee headed by vice president, Yemi Osinbajo over his alleged
involvement in the N13 billion recovered in Ikoyi apartment. A whistle-blower
tip had led operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
to Osborne towers in Ikoyi where $43,449,947, £27,800 and N23,218,000 were
recovered.
Reports filtered in a few days later that the National Intelligence
Agency (NIA) claimed the EFCC operation has bungled a covert security operation
and that the fund actually belonged to the agency.
According to Ayo Oke who is the director general of the NIA, the fund
was approved by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) during the administration of
Goodluck Jonathan for an operation although this was not revealed to the new
administration.
A court granted a temporary forfeiture of the fund to the federal
government although President Muhammadu Buhari later ordered the money back to
the CBN while preliminary investigation is being carried out.
President Buhari suspended Oke on Wednesday, April 19 and set up a
three-man committee made up of Abubakar Malami, the attorney-general of the
federation; Babagana Monguno who is the national security adviser and Professor
Osinbajo to carry out a two weeks investigation and report its finding
The panel was tasked with the responsibility of investigating
“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,”
According to Premium Times, Jonathan is one of the high-profile persons
that would be called before the panel to explain their involvement in the
recovered monies.
Godwin Emefiele who has been the governor of the CBN since 2014 is also
expected to be questioned as the CBN allegedly made the fund available to the
NIA.
Also, the acting chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu would also be
invited to reveal all h knows about the recovered monies. Although a member of
the panel, Monguno would also be expected to provide important information
considering he was allegedly briefed by Oke about the operation before the
recovery of the money by the EFCC.
According to sources, Oke’s insistence that Jonathan approved the
release of the money necessitated decision to question him although instead of
being summoned by the panel, he would be met at his preferred location to shed
light on the matter.
Top EFCC members who led the operation would also likely accompany Magu
to meet the panel and provide valuable information on how the operation was
carried out.
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