The suspended Director - General of the National Intelligence Agency , Amb . Ayodele Oke, has met with Vice- President Yemi Osinbajo, where he admitted that his agency received the sum of $ 289 , 202 , 382 on the orders of former President Goodluck Jonathan in February 2015 .

President Muhammadu Buhari , on Wednesday , ordered the suspension of Oke over the role of the NIA in the ownership of $ 43 m ( about N13 bn) and other currencies uncovered in Osborne Towers , Ikoyi, Lagos.

Buhari also ordered the suspension of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation , Mr . Babachir Lawal , in connection with his indictment for contract fraud by a Senate ad hoc committee on mounting humanitarian crisis in the North - East .

A top government source , on Thursday , confided in one of our correspondents that the Osinbajo- led committee had directed Oke to submit documents to back his claim.
It was learnt that the suspended NIA boss had also gathered documents which would be formally submitted to the panel showing that the transaction was approved by Jonathan through the embattled former National Security Adviser, Col . Sambo Dasuki ( retd . ) .
It was learnt that the transaction was known as an intervention fund for national security or special services with the aim of fighting insurgency during the six weeks period between February 14 , when the Presidential /National Assembly elections were postponed and March 28 , when the polls were held.
However , operatives of the EFCC are said to be working on the theory that the money was meant for the prosecution of the 2015 general elections .

A source , who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the case , said , “ The DG of the NIA has met with Vice - President Osinbajo and will submit documents pertaining to the transaction .
“ The DG admitted on record that the transaction was authorised by former President Jonathan and Col. Sambo Dasuki , and as such , was simply following orders from the commander - in - chief . He will submit memos and other documents as evidence. ”

Explaining how the transaction took place , the source said a memo was raised by the National Petroleum Investment Management Service on February 25 , 2015 , two weeks after the postponement of the presidential election for ‘ security ’ reasons, based on Dasuki ’ s advice .

According to the memo, NAPIMS asked the CBN to release $ 289 , 202 , 382 to the NIA in cash .
The money was received by the NIA and kept in a safe house .

When asked why President Muhammadu Buhari was not briefed on the existence of the cash, the source said , “The DG NIA informed top security people in the government of the existence of the cash.
“ Specifically in January 2016 , a letter was written by the DG NIA to the NSA , Babagana Moguno , on the existence of the cash . The memo exists and will also be submitted to the panel. ”

It was gathered that one of the posers the NIA would solve was why the apartment , where the money was kept , was registered in the name of the wife of the DG, Mrs. Folasade Oke.

“ One question the suspended NIA boss must answer when he meets with the panel is why the apartment used for an official matter was registered in his wife ’ s name , ” the top government source said .
Efforts to get the NNPC through the Group General Manager , Corporate Affairs , Ndu Ughamadu , were not successful as his mobile indicated that it was not reachable .A detailed text message was sent to him on the matter , but he had yet to respond as of the time of filing this report on Thursday .

NAPIMS is a subsidiary of the NNPC .
Attempts to get comments from the CBN were also not successful as repeated calls made to the acting Director, Corporate Communications , CBN, Mr Isaac Okorafor , did not connect while a text message sent to him on the issue had yet to be responded to as of press time on Thursday.

Panel to invite NAPIMS , CBN officials , others
It was learnt that the Osinbajo- led panel would also invite the Governor of the CBN , Mr . Godwin Emefiele, and some directors of the apex bank to explain why such a huge sum of money was released in such a manner.
One of our correspondents also gathered that officials of NAPIMS would also be invited to explain why the money , which did not go through appropriations , was released .

EFCC to monitor airports , get warrants to search more properties.
It was learnt that the EFCC was working on the theory that more of such huge funds , belonging to the NIA, might be stashed in some secret locations .
A source told The PUNCH that the commission had obtained warrants to search more properties in urban areas of the country.
One of our correspondents learnt that the EFCC had asked sister agencies to be on the lookout at various airports to ensure that none of the affected persons was allowed to flee the country.

Senate panel expresses doubt on Osinbajo - led probe
Meanwhile , the Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Mounting Humanitarian Crisis , whose interim investigative report indicted the SGF , Lawal , has expressed doubt on the probe ordered by the Presidency .

The Chairman of the Senate panel , Senator Shehu Sani , while featuring on a breakfast programme by Television Continental , TVC Breakfast , on Thursday , said an investigation of the SGF by the Presidency could give Lawal a soft landing eventually .
He stated that the EFCC , the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission and the Nigeria Police could be asked to probe the SGF .

Sani added , “ What I am saying in this aspect is that the best institution to investigate the SGF is one recognised by the law (to carry out the task ), which is the EFCC , ICPC and the police .
“ That is why we are being very cautious in endorsing the investigation in the Presidency . What I am afraid of is soft landing, which I don ’ t think will be in the best interest of the anti - corruption crusade . ”

http://punchng.com/suspended-nia-dg-oke-admits-jonathan-ordered-289m-release/

Jonathan: The CURSE of Nigeria!! Ineffectual thing!!
When a sitting President opens his mouth on an international Television and say 'Stealing is not corruption' what do you expect? I am so grateful to God that these rogues never won the election, only God knows where the economy of my country will be by now.
They were only all concern about their selfish selves and family and never care about the masses and the ones supporting them with hunger! And imagine this man was borrowing millions of dollars to buy ammunition to fight insurgency...
And for the wailers that will wail forever supporting Jona and his gang of thieves, I really pity you all, where are those saying the money belongs to Amaechi?

$43 million dollars = #13 billion naira
$289 million dollars = (someone pls help me with the naira equivalent, my calculator just exploded!!!)
And this was mismanaged/stolen in just one Agency!!
Possibly over $1 Billion Dollars must have been stolen during the years Oga Jona was hot!
And some dumb people wonder why we are in recession!
May the enemies of Nigeria never live long!

As a president, he can't toy with security based on the security advice from the security agency to release such money if he actually did, but the criminality in it is for you, the NIA boss to have concealed such from the incumbent president, who's your current boss. Are you planning to overthrow Buhari government with such money?

How come big change ($43million) still remain after the six weeks pre-election fight against insurgency?

Maybe the $43million is to rehabilitate the Chibok girls when they finally find them all.

Wao

289 Million dollars ?

Better put

289,000,000 dollars.


Or at current official rate of 350


101,150,000,000 Naira


The Voltrons will soon arrive in their numbers.

Defenders of the universe

Bunch of eediots. Even if they are using your destiny to play Candy crush. There should be limit to which you load 100naira airtime to defend billion naira theft.

Humongous!

See how money dey fly around while so many find it hard to eat a square meal in a day.

According to the memo, NAPIMS asked the CBN to release $ 289 , 202 , 382 to the NIA in cash .
The money was received by the NIA and kept in a safe house .

What will an intelligence agency responsible for gathering information outside the country do with a cash of $289,202,382 in six weeks? DSS is in charge of local intelligence gathering and not NIA. What did NIA do with such a huge unbudgeted amount locally in just six weeks?

Truth be told, the money was simply looted by Jonathan to finance the 2015 election. This matter should be a test case for Buhari's resolve to fight corruption. If Jonathan and all his collaborators are not arrested and prosecuted on account of this discovery, then Nigeria is finished.

OGA FORTUNADO STRIKES AGAIN! Good luck indeed.

They share our common wealth with reckless abandon, making the youths to suffer despite the supposed plenty in the land.
And all we are left with is name calling laced in tribal hatred(eg flati.nos and afonjas). Can't we just unite as youths and take charge?

This particular case has a good chance of messing GEJ up big time and if PMB doesn't pursue this case to a point where Nigerians are satisfied, it will mess him up too.

However, the idiots shouting the money belongs to Amaechi can now shut up or provide evidence.

Jonathan milked Nigeria, haba!

story for the gods!!! The cover up thickens!!!

PUNCH added again that:

Celcius:
.........When asked why President Muhammadu Buhari was not briefed on the existence of the cash, the source said ,
"the DG NIA informed top security people in Buhari's govt of the existence of the cash.
“ Specifically in January 2016 , a letter was written by the DG NIA to his boss the NSA , Babagana Moguno (Buhari's NSA), on the existence of the cash . The memo exists and will also be submitted to the panel. ”

So, why didn't Buhari's own NSA Babagana Mongunu direct NIA to return unspent funds to FG?

Nwodosis:
As a president, he can't toy with security based on the security advice from the security agency to release such money if he actually did, but the criminality in it is for you, the NIA boss to have concealed such from the incumbent president, who's your current boss. Are you planning to overthrow Buhari government with such money?

Without parliamentary approval? High level abuse of office.

Jonathan and Dasuki have a common ground when it comes to corruption..

PDP released a statement earlier saying the dismissed SGF should have been "arrested" if the government wanted to show any sincerity in her intentions over the grasscuter.

Jonathan's name has come up s gazillion times in virtually all known criminal incidents under his government: when would the bat-faced two timing fvcktards call for Jonathan's arrest?

So GEJ actually approved the money?

I thought wailers said Ameachi stashed the cash or was planted by EFCC?

Where is TonyeBarcanista? good morning.

I'm not surprised at this because this is typical of what you find in Bayelsa govt house since 1999 from DSP Alams to Gej to Dickson. FAAC allocation comes in, they sit down and share it among the political class for mostly Ogogoro purposes. Same way my ex-colleagues from Bayelsa treat their salaries once it shows. No savings, no investment, no plans. That's why you don't find meaningful development in that small but rich state.
If not for the "gentleman agreement" among the political class not to prosecute former presidents, Gej being by far the biggest thief with no less than $1b loot would be languishing in jail by now.
Dishing out our hard earned dollars as if he owned the monies. What an excellent Ineffectual Buffoon!

Goddex:


1) My dear, there is a cover-up going on. How are you sure that money was the same money GEJ approved?

The fact that GEJ gave approval for such a huge and unbudgeted amount of money to be withdrawn in cash and spend within the country should make any reasonable Nigerian very angry. Apart from the corruption involved, the negative effect on the Naira and our economy is unimaginable.

Nigerians can now see why the Naira practically collapsed when Buhari took over. Jonathan dipped his rotten and corruption infected fingers straight into CBN and depleted the foreign reserve in a desperate attempt to win the election. Only God can adequately punish that guy for what he did to this country.

cktheluckyman:
story for the gods!!! The cover up thickens!!!

You are just a pathetic soul

Goddex:


NIA reports to the NSA Babagana Monguno and I read in that PUNCH article that he did write a letter to the NSA informing him about the existence of the money

Who's now suspended? Why not the NSA boss?

Goddex:


NIA reports to the NSA Babagana Monguno and I read in that PUNCH article that he did write a letter to the NSA informing him about the existence of the money

“ The DG admitted on record that the transaction was authorised by former President Jonathan and Col. Sambo Dasuki , and as such , was simply following orders from the commander - in - chief . He will submit memos and other documents as evidence. ”

If he duly notified NSA of the left over cash (since it was the NSA that advised it be released in the first place), why stash it in a private residence owned by his wife's Company?

Is it that he doesn't report to the President directly, why didn't he include it in his report?

The drama is gradually unfolding... Lemme sit and watch

Or are this funds the remains from Dasuki gate

Chai!!! Naija can thief o

Goddex:


1) My dear, there is a cover-up going on. How are you sure that money was the same money GEJ approved?

2) Even if GEJ approved money for NIA in Feb, 2015, why was the balance not returned back to FG at the end of the year?

Those are questions Amb Oké will answer, especially 2).

... But his admission that the money was approved and released in Feb 2015 negates your 1) question.

Don't forget the heavy dollar rain during the period under review.

Wailing zombies be like stealing is not corruption. ...isn't that so GEJ

menxer:
So GEJ actually approved the money?

I thought wailers said Ameachi stashed the cash or was planted by EFCC?

Where is TonyeBarcanista? good morning.

I was of the opinion that the cash was a theatric by EFCC, I might be wrong but I will wait for OFFICIAL REPORT and outcome of the investigation before making further comment.

As usual, I don't make brief for individuals when it comes to corruption

vedaxcool:
Wailing zombies be like stealing is not corruption. ...isn't that so GEJ

Its only in Nigeria that corruption is part of achievements

E remain small them go add am to education curriculum as a degree course. SMH

GEJ the most educated nigeria president?