EFCC invites ex-governor, others as search for recovered fund intensifies
- 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
- $43.4million was recovered last Wednesday, April 12 from the flat
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.
Legit.ng 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.
The anti-graft agency is said to be suspecting that some owners or tenants may have been complicit in the matter.
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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.
“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.”
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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.
Source: Legit.ng
