The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Friday took control of Nigeria’s spy agency, the National Intelligence Agency’s bank account as it continues its investigation into the N13 billion found in an apartment at Ikoyi, Lagos.
The cash – comprising $43.5 million, £27,800 and N23.2 million hidden inside Apartment 7B at Osborne Towers, Ikoyi – was uncovered and seized by the EFCC on April 12.
The director general of the NIA, Ayodele Oke, who was suspended from office following the discovery of the cash, claimed the money belonged to the spy agency.
Mr Oke said the money was meant for “covert projects”.
But quoting unnamed security sources, Premium Times reported that operatives of the EFCC has compelled the director of Finance and Administration of the NIA to hand over the accounts of the agency to an Army officer attached to the Office of the National Security Adviser.
The EFCC then appointed Jaafaru Mohammed, a brigadier general in the Nigerian Army, to carry out a complete audit of the agency’s finances.
According to the newspaper, the NSA made at least two attempts to impose Mr Mohammed on the NIA as its new Director of Finance, but officials of the agency stopped him from resuming each time.
Following the rejection of Mr Mohammed, the EFCC invited NIA’s Director of Finance and Administration and two officials from the same account department for questioning that lasted hours.
Later he was taken back to the NIA Headquarters where he was compelled to hand over to Mr Mohammed.4
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