EFCC invites ex-governor, others as search for recovered fund intensifies

A report by The Nation indicates that
the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) has identified how
the controversial apartment 7B, where
the $43.4million was kept, was
acquired. Also recovered were £27,000
and N23million cash.
According to the report, detectives are
to question a former governor over the
recovered fund in a flat in Ikoyi, Lagos.
Some high-profile owners of apartments
in the area - Osborne Towers, Ikoyi,
Lagos have also been penned down for
interrogation.
It was gathered that the EFCC has
intensified investigation into the roles
played by some apartment owners and
tenants on how the cash was brought
into the towers.
EFCC boss, Ibrahim Magu are under pressure to
reveal the owners of the find recovered
The anti-graft agency is said to be
suspecting that some owners or tenants
may have been complicit in the matter
A source said: “The more we investigate
this $43.4m haul, the more we get fresh
facts. It has become imperative to
interact with some owners or tenants of
apartments in the Towers.
“We have invited a former governor and
other high-profile owners and tenants
for interaction. It is just to ask a few
questions on whether or not they were
aware of such movement of cash.
“We have clues linking some occupants
of the Towers to the cash haul. And in
line with sections 16 and 17 of the EFCC
(Establishment Act) 2004, we are inviting
these landlords or tenants.
“Unless we get to the root of this case,
Nigerians may not know the truth or
otherwise about the cash.
“We are not saying that those invited are
guilty of any infraction or having link
with the $43.4million but we need to
hear from them – in line with the
ongoing profiling of those in the
Towers.”
Another source said detectives
discovered that the 7B Apartment was
bought in the name of a company
allegedly owned by the wife of a senior
government official.
President Buhari has since directed that the
fund should be paid back into the national
treasury
“Since investigation is still ongoing, we
will not release the identity of the owner
of the company. Doing so might
jeopardise investigation,” the source
said, adding that the EFCC had
interacted with “some people from the
company.”
A National Intelligence Agency (NIA)
source said of the apartment: “What
happened was that because of the nature
of the covert operations which the
apartment will be used for, it was
necessary to manage the process well.
“Only the Deed of Assignment was
acquired by Thabis Ventures Limited on
behalf of NIA. And immediately the
process for the purchase of the
apartment was completed, the ownership
was clearly stated in the name of NIA.
All the papers are reflecting NIA too, he
said, adding: “The title document is
available for anyone to verify.”

Meanwhile, the deputy national
publicity secretary of the All
Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade
Timi Frank has written an open letter to
President Muhammadu Buhari in
connection to the recent fund recovery
by the EFCC.
The Bayelsa-born APC chieftain noted
that while many Nigerians have
applauded the progress recorded in the
anti-corruption war, and highly
commend the EFCC for the great job
they are doing, they expect the anti-
graft commission to move a step further
by disclosing those who truly own the
recovered funds.