The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission( EFCC) has terminated the money laundering case filed against Ayo Oke, former director-general of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) over the discovery of $43 million, £27,000 and N23 million in an Ikoyi flat.
On Friday, June 9, Chukwujekwu Aneke, the presiding of the federal high court in Ikoyi, Lagos, struck out the case. The termination was initiated by the EFCC, with no objection from the defence team led by Kayode Ajulo of the Castle of Law Chambers. The case was terminated on national security grounds.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari reportedly approved the termination of the case before he left office. It would be recalled that In April 2017, EFCC said it had discovered $43 million, £27,000 and N23 million stashed in a flat on Osborne Road in Ikoyi after a tip-off from a whistle blower
Following reports that the monies belonged to the NIA, The Cable reports that the agency had collected $289,202,382 in cash for special operations from the account of the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in February 2015.
NIA said the funds were part of “covert intelligence operations” but there was public outcry that it was a case of looting. A three-man panel headed by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo indicted Oke and recommended his dismissal, which was effected in October same year.
On January 20, 2019, Osinbajo said criminal allegations would be filed against Oke and Babachir Lawal, former secretary to the government of the federation, following a directive from Buhari.
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