The Presidential Panel, headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s readiness to listen to former President, Goodluck Jonathan, speak on the mysteries surrounding the $43 million recovered from an apartment in Lagos, by the Economic And Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, will shock the nation.
Recall, that President Muhammadu Buhari had named Osinbajo to lead the Committee, with the Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, Abubakar Malami, and Babagana Monguno.
The constitution of the panel, came as the Presidency announced the immediate suspension of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Babachir Lawal, and the Nigeria Intelligence Agency, NIA, boss, Ayodele Oke, for their respective roles in the grass cutting scandal, and the over N13 billion recovered in Lagos, respectively.
Operatives of the EFCC, acting on a tip-off on April 12, said they found $43,449,947, £27,800, and N23, 218,000, hidden inside an apartment at Osborne Towers, Ikoyi.
The funds were valued at over N13 billion, based on prevailing exchange rates, set by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.
It was learnt from credible sources, that Jonathan will make himself available to the panelists, to state his own side of the story, surrounding the Ikoyi loot.
The funds were valued at over N13 billion, based on prevailing exchange rates, set by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.
It was learnt from credible sources, that Jonathan will make himself available to the panelists, to state his own side of the story, surrounding the Ikoyi loot.
The former President, is expected to be questioned, over claims that he approved the operation, for which the Nigeria Intelligence Agency, NIA, allegedly obtained the money.
Recall, that the Presidency and security sources, had disclosed that Jonathan approved the funds for the NIA.
A source said should Oke’s reported stance that Jonathan approved the money be found to be true, then the former President would have to be questioned.
However, the former President may not be summoned, our sources said, as the Committee members will arrange to meet with Jonathan, at the former President’s preferred point.
The recovered funds had the packaging and inscriptions of the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company on them, indicating that they might have come directly from the Central Bank of Nigeria. The dollar denominations were also itemised with serialised bar codes.
