The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, yesterday tendered evidence before the
presidential committee investigating the discovery of $43.4m and other
currencies totaling about N15bn in a residential apartment at Osborne Towers,
Ikoyi, Lagos.
The National Intelligence Agency (NIA) had made a claim to
the funds.
The three-man investigation committee headed by Vice
President Yemi Osinbajo is enquiring into the circumstances in which the NIA
came about the money, how and by whose or which authority it was made available
to the NIA, and to establish whether or not there had been a breach of the law
or security procedure in obtaining custody and use of the funds.
President Muhammadu Buhari had on Wednesday ordered the
probe and suspended the NIA Director-General, Ambassador Ayo Oke, pending the
outcome of the investigation.
Magu yesterday appeared before the panel comprising the
Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami and the National Security
Adviser, Babagana Monguno.
Rising from the Vice President’s Wing of the Aso Rock
Presidential Villa in Abuja where he briefed the panel, Magu was sighted
clutching documents tightly.
The EFCC had been summoned to furnish the committee with
information on the circumstances surrounding the discovery of the money. Magu
had, alongside the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS),
Malam Lawal Daura and the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, earlier
appeared before the probe panel Thursday.
The anti-graft agency boss declined comment when approached
by State House correspondents yesterday.
A Presidency source told Daily Trust that the documents Magu
submitted to the committee were “evidential enough”. The source, however,
refused to give an insight into the nature of information provided by the EFCC
boss.
The committee is also investigating the allegation of
violation of the law and due process made against the suspended Secretary to
the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, in the award of contracts
under the Presidential Initiative on the North-East.
By Isiaka Wakili
