EFCC Resumes Probe Of Osborne’s $43.4m Cash

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has resumed the probe into the $43.4million cash recovered at Osborne Towers in Ikoyi, Lagos which led to Monday’s sacking of National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Director-General Ayo Oke by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Presidency said it is in order for anti-graft agencies to probe the former NIA boss and the sacked Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Babachir Lawal.

There were indications last night that the EFCC had received the report of the Presidential Investigative Committee headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

More suspects from the NIA and outside it are to be invited for interrogation by the anti-graft agency, it was learnt.

The EFCC deferred action on the interrogation of some suspects because it wanted the Osinbajo panel to conclude its assignment.

A top source in the anti-graft agency, who spoke in confidence last night, said: “On Tuesday, we resumed the ongoing probe of the $43.4million, 27,000 pounds and N23.2million recovered on April 12, 2017 from the seventh floor of a four-bedroom apartment at Osborne Towers located on 16, Osborne Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

“We have shortlisted more suspects for interrogation and we are likely to pick them up any moment from now. Some of the suspects are NIA men including those in the Finance Unit.

“Don’t forget that the then Acting President approved the redeployment of NIA’s Director of Finance and some officials in the Finance Unit as part of the ongoing review of the finances of the agency.”

The detectives are being led by the Acting Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, who has reconvened the team handling the investigation.

“Some of the detectives might still visit Lagos for more forensic evidence on some of the suspects,” it was learnt.

A judge of the Federal High Court in Lagos, Justice Muslim Hassan, had on June 6, 2017 granted a final forfeiture order of the funds since no one appeared before the court to claim them.


The Nation