Suspended NIA boss grilled for 12 hours by Osinbajo's panel

Suspended NIA boss grilled for 12 hours by Osinbajo's panel

- The suspended Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayo Oke, was quizzed for over 12 hours on Monday, April 24

- He was grilled by the presidential panel probing the discovery of about N15 billion in a residential apartment at Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos

- The three-man investigation panel is headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo

The suspended Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayo Oke, was quizzed for over 12 hours on Monday, April 24, Daily Trust reports.

Legit.ng gathered that Oke was grilled by the presidential panel probing the discovery of about N15 billion in a residential apartment at Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos.

The three-man investigation panel headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo resumed its session at the Vice President’s Wing of the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja at 10.00am.

Suspended NIA boss grilled for 12 hours by Osinbajo's panel
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is heading the panel quizing the suspended NIA boss

Oke was still being interrogated as at 10.05pm, as the panel members examined documents and interrogated some officials at the marathon session.

READ ALSO: Buhari recalls reporter expelled from Aso Rock by CSO

One of the highlights of the session was when the suspended NIA DG told the panel that he wrote a memo to the National Security Adviser (NSA) on the custody of the $43.4million for covert operations, The Nation reports.

A source quoted in the report said the DG maintained his stand that he informed the NSA, Major-General Babagana Monguno, who is a member of the committee, about the money.

Oke was said to have told the committee about the covert operations and projects executed by the agency.

The source added: “Oke gave a spirited defence of his career and said there was no ill-motive behind the cash.”

President Muhammadu Buhari suspended Oke last week, sequel to the claim made by the NIA to the fund, which was found by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Suspended NIA boss grilled for 12 hours by Osinbajo's panel
President Buhari suspended the NIA boss last week

The panel is investigating the circumstances in which the NIA came into the possession of the funds, how and by whose or which authority the fund was made available to it, and whether or not there had been a breach of the law or security procedure in obtaining custody and use of the funds.

The panel, comprising the National Security Adviser, General Babagana Monguno (rtd) and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, is expected to submit its report to the president next Wednesday.

READ ALSO: Customs boss, Education minister, others linked to SGF job

Meanwhile, the senior special assistant to President Buhari on media and publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu has revealed that more corrupt officials in the current administration would soon be sacked by the president.

Mallam Shehu made the revelation in an exclusive interview with the Daily Trust in Abuja while speaking on the circumstances that led to the suspension of Lawal.

Source: Legit.ng

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