The Presidential investigative panel, headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has invited the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in connection with the $43 million, N23 million and £27,000 recovered by the anti graft agency from a flat at Osborne Towers in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, together with top officials of the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), are expected to explain the circumstances of the funds for which the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayodele Oke was recently suspended by President Muhammadu Buhari.
NAPIMS, a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), was said to have released $289,202,382 to NIA for “covert” operations. The NNPC will also face the panel to explain its role in the money transfer.
Similarly, NIA officials have been asked to appear to shed light of what the money was needed for, how part of it was used, why the choice of Ikoyi Towers as safe house, among others.
It was learnt also that Osinbajo panel has summoned all the contractors and consultants who handled different jobs under the Presidential Initiative on the North-East (PINE).
The controversy surrounding the PINE contracts also led to the suspension of Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Engineer Babachir David Lawal,
President Buhari had immediately set up a committee, headed by Vice President Osinbajo, with the Attorney-General and Justice Minister, Abubakar Malami and National Security Adviser, retired Major General Babagana Monguno as members to probe the activities of the two suspended top government officials.
The panel was given 14 days within which to submit its findings. [myad]
