The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had recovered the cash haul at Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos last Wednesday.
The
ownership of the recovered funds has sparked controversies, with many
individuals linked to it denying knowledge of such cash.
But
the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) has claimed that the funds
belong to the agency and that it was meant for a covert operation.
In
a statement on Sunday, April 16, Falana wondered why the funds, if it
truly belongs to the NIA, was not kept in "a safe in the well-fortified"
office of the national security adviser.
He also wondered why the NIA had not briefed anti-graft agencies about the funds since the whistle-blowing policy was launched.
The statement said: "In
2014, two businessmen (an Israeli and a Nigerian) smuggled $9.3 million
to South Africa from Nigeria. It was alleged that the private jet with
which the fund was hauled was leased from the then President of
Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor.
"Both
suspects were arrested while the fund was seized. The additional sum of
$5.7 million sent to South Africa through a bank by the duo was also
seized. Although the Federal Government was not implicated in the
transfer of the fund, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA)
later claimed that the $15 million was meant for the purchase of arms
from a firm in South Africa.
"As
the ONSA could not justify the brazen contravention of the Money
Laundering Act of South Africa, the fund was confiscated on the orders
of a High Court in Pretoria. When tried last year to confirm from the
Attorney-General of the Federation if the forfeited sum of $15 million
had been recovered from the President Jacob Zuma regime, I was asked to
direct my enquiry to the ONSA.
"It
is hoped that history is not repeating itself with respect to the
embarrassing attempt by the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) to claim
the sum of $43 million, N22 million and £27,000 seized by the EFCC last
week from a flat at a building in Osborne Road, Ikoyi.
"The
Federal Government owes the nation a duty to handle this matter with
utmost transparency and circumspection. The NIA should not be allowed to
play on the collective intelligence of the Nigerian people. If the
Federal Government believes the cock and bull story of the NIA, the
danger is that similar hidden funds are going to be officially
protected, thereby making a mockery of the whistle-blowing policy of the
government.
"We must avoid a
situation whereby huge funds hidden in abandoned buildings and
apartments are said to be “operational funds” kept by certain security
agencies. If the EFCC had refused to seize the fund last week, the
whistle-blower could have rushed to the media to accuse the Buhari
administration of keeping stolen money for the 2019 general elections.
"Apart
from the NIA, the Rivers State government is also laying claim to the
fund. But instead of giving the Federal Government a seven-day ultimatum
to hand over the money to the Rives State government, Governor Nyesom
Wike should instruct his attorney-general to file an affidavit at the
Federal High Court.
"But before
doing that, he should carefully study the case of FRN v CBN (unreported)
where the application of the Delta State government to claim the bribe
of $15 million paid to the then EFCC chairman, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu, by a
former governor of the state was dismissed as the applicant was unable
to prove that it owned the money.
"On
a more serious note, are Nigerians to believe that an agency of the
federal government kept about $50 million in an apartment without
adequate security personnel to guard the money? Why was the fund not
kept in a safe in the well-fortified ONSA? When was the National
Intelligence Agency exempted from the Treasury Single Account (TSA)?
"If
the DG of NIA has just gone to brief President Buhari that the fund was
collected from former President Goodluck Jonathan for a special
project, why did the briefing not take place before now? Since the NIA
is in charge of external security why was it necessary to execute
projects in the country? How much of such fund is being kept in private
homes by the NIA and other security agencies?
"Since
the whistle-blowing policy of the Federal Government commenced why has
the NIA not deemed it fit to take the anti-graft agencies into
confidence with respect to the fund being kept in Ikoyi for the so
called covert operations?
"Is
the Federal Government not being exposed to ridicule when corrupt public
officers are competing with government departments to hide millions of
United States dollars in dump sites and ‘safe’ apartments? Anyway, since
the Federal High Court has granted the application filed by the EFCC
for an interim forfeiture of the fund, it is no longer an internal
affair of the Buhari administration. Let the National Intelligence
Agency approach the court with convert proof to claim the money."
A
Federal High Court in Lagos has since ordered that the monies be
forfeited to the Federal Government until a claimant comes forward with
proof of ownership.
News Source: Pulse.ng
Reacting to the
controversy surrounding the over $43 million found in a house in Ikoyi,
Lagos, the party faulted the reported claim of the NIA that it owned the
huge amount in various denominations, kept in a private residence
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/04/pdp-faults-buharis-easter-message-says-jonathan-handed-single-digit-inflation-rate/
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/04/pdp-faults-buharis-easter-message-says-jonathan-handed-single-digit-inflation-rate/
Reacting to the
controversy surrounding the over $43 million found in a house in Ikoyi,
Lagos, the party faulted the reported claim of the NIA that it owned the
huge amount in various denominations, kept in a private residence.
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/04/pdp-faults-buharis-easter-message-says-jonathan-handed-single-digit-inflation-rate/
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/04/pdp-faults-buharis-easter-message-says-jonathan-handed-single-digit-inflation-rate/
Reacting to the
controversy surrounding the over $43 million found in a house in Ikoyi,
Lagos, the party faulted the reported claim of the NIA that it owned the
huge amount in various denominations, kept in a private residence
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/04/pdp-faults-buharis-easter-message-says-jonathan-handed-single-digit-inflation-rate/
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/04/pdp-faults-buharis-easter-message-says-jonathan-handed-single-digit-inflation-rate/
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