Following sack, EFCC summons ex-NIA DG Oke, wife over $43m Ikoyi money

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Wednesday announced that it was inviting the former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayodele Oke and his wife, Folashade Oke, for questioning.

Oke was sacked as NIA chief by President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday, about six months after he was first suspended.

He was sacked alongside Babachir Lawal, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), who was involved in an alleged North-East contract scam.

This development is also coming after Buhari, in a statement by his spokesperson, Garba Shehu, on Monday, said the president expected the anti-corruption agencies to proceed with their investigation of the matter involving both officials.

Read also: Yielding to loud calls for prosecution, Presidency says Buhari ‘expects’ EFCC, ICPC to go after Lawal, Oke

In a statement by its spokesperson, Wilson Uwujare, the EFCC said, “In furtherance of its investigative activities to unravel the circumstances surrounding the $43.45 million cash recovered by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Lagos sometime in April 2017, the Commission has invited former Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Ayodele Oke and his wife, Folashade Oke,” Wilson Uwujaren, the commission’s spokesperson said in a statement.

“Mrs. Oke had refused to honour previous invitations by the Commission which resumed its investigation into the matter, following the Federal Government’s decision to relieve Mr. Oke of his position as DG.

“Beside the couple, other suspects are equally being invited to determine their culpability or otherwise in the humongous cash, in foreign currencies and naira notes, stashed in a residential building at Osborne road Ikoyi, Lagos”.

The former DG was suspended after the EFCC found about $43.45 million in a house in Ikoyi. The commission later said the house where the money was found was rented in the name of Oke’s wife, Folashade, before eventually obtaining a court order for the forfeiture of the money to the Federal Government.

Oke’s NIA had admitted owning which it said was for intelligence operations, claiming that the presidency through the National Security Adviser was aware of the money having been briefed of the operations.

However, a panel led by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had recommended Oke’s dismissal after investigating the matter.

The panel submitted its report on August 23, but Buhari did not act on it until Monday when they were sacked. Both Lawal and Oke had been on suspension since April 19 before the termination of their appointments.

 

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