The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is presently investigating how some vested interests in the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) allegedly attempted to cart away $44 million from the agency’s vault.
The perpetrators were said to have attempted the heist before the new Director General, Amb. Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, resumed last week.
According to The Nation, two Acting Directors-General of NIA, Amb. Arab Yandam and Amb. Mohammed Dauda were interrogated by EFCC over the matter.
Other top officials were also said to have been quizzed by EFCC.
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Gen. Babagana Monguno, reportedly ordered the cash put in protective custody pending the conclusion of investigation by the anti-graft body.
“We have started investigation into the circumstances behind the purported removal/withdrawal of $44million from the vaults of the National Intelligence Agency.
“Based on the prompting of some vested interests, the cash was already removed from the vaults but the process of taking it out of the agency was halted. The plot was to seize the cash before the resumption of the new DG.
“The NSA, Gen. Monguno, whose office also supervises the activities of NIA, has ordered the relocation of the cash to a safe custody pending the conclusion of investigation by EFCC,” an undisclosed source was quoted as saying by the The Nation.
Meanwhile, a former DG of NIA, Amb. Ayo Oke has reportedly been invited by EFCC to shed light on the $43.4 million cash found at the Osborne Towers in Ikoyi.
The ex-DG has reportedly refused to honour the invitation.