The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has begun a probe into the involvement of the former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayo Oke, in the $43.45 million discovered in a building in Ikoyi, Lagos State.
Already, Oke and his wife have been summoned by the EFCC.
This was made known by the spokesman of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, in a statement he issued on Wednesday.
The commission also disclosed that others that might be involved in the alleged scam had been invited.
The statement reads in part: “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…
“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. Ayo Oke of his position as DG.
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“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 probe is coming a few days after President Muhammadu Buhari relieved Oke of his duty following the recommendation of a panel which investigated his involvement in the financial scam.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo headed the panel which indicted Oke.
The report was submitted to the president on August 23.
Following his sack on Monday, Buhari declared that the EFCC was free to carry out its probe as might be required.
Ayo Oke had confessed that the NIA under his watch owned the $43.45 million found in the house in Ikoyi.
It was also alleged that the house where the money was found was rented in the name of Folashade, Ayo Oke’s wife.