EFCC BLUNDER! Nigeria's CIA CLAIMS ownership of $43 Million Ikoyi Cash Heist by EFCC to exonerate Rotimi Amaechi

EFCC BLUNDER! Nigeria's CIA CLAIMS ownership of $43 Million Ikoyi Cash Heist by EFCC to exonerate Rotimi Amaechi

The National Intelligence Agency, NIA, is claiming ownership of the $43,449,947, £27,800 and N23, 218,000 – N50 billion – seized on Wednesday, April 12, 2017 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), from Osborne Towers, a luxury residential complex in Ikoyi, Lagos.

This claim came yesterday after an aide to the Ekiti State government accused former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi as the owner of the loot. Mr. Lere Olayinka, a media aide to the Ekiti state Governor, Ayodele Fayose,  accused Amaechi of being connected with the over N5billion recovered by the EFCC at a Lagos house on Wednesday. 

In a statement made on his Facebook page, Fayose’s aide had alleged that Amaechi, who is currently serving as the Nigeria's Transport Minister owns the house where the alleged looted money was found by the anti-graft agency. 

According to Olayinka, “The Osborne Towers, a luxury residential complex in Ikoyi, Lagos where EFCC said it found $43,449,947, £27,800 and N23, 218,000 on Wednesday is owned by the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.” 

“The house was built by Alhaji Adamu Muazu, the former Chairman of PDP through a loan from GTBank.” 

“He could not repay the loan so GTB took over the house and allocated the Penthouse to Muazu and two flats.” 

“Rotimi Amaechi bought TWO of the flats (7A and 7B). He then gave 7A to MO ABUDU, the TV presenter, who is suspected to be his girlfriend.” 

“But the flat 7B where the money was found belong to Rotimi Amaechi. The is believed to be cash kept for 2019 elections.” 

“Let’s see how the cover up game goes.” 

But in response, Amaechi’s aide said the allegation is false, warning Mr. Olayinka to delete the allegation or face jail term. Mr. David Iyofor, a media aide to the Minister of Transport said, “Lere or whatever you call yourself, delete your lies or be ready to face the consequences of stupidity and utter foolishness.” 

“You better hear well before your ear sends you to prison. Lying is not playing Politics. You don't play politics by tweeting outright lies.” 

“Where is your proof? If you think you can link Amaechi to the House & money by tweeting this rubbish, then you need to have your head examine.”

 “Big Liar! Demonic Liar! Listen, you disgusting pig, Rotimi Amaechi is not connected or linked in anyway whatsoever to the house &/or money.” Recall that operatives of Economic EFCC, had found $38 million, £27,000 and N23 million in a private residence on Gerard Road, Ikoyi, Lagos

It is believed that in order to cover up the real owner of the loot, which is already embarrassing the Muhammadu Buhari's regime, the NIA, was asked to step in to claim ownership of the loot.

According to a US-based online newspaper, The Will, the director of the NIA, which is Nigeria’s equivalent of the CIA, Ayodele Oke has “been in touch in EFCC’s boss, Ibrahim Magu, to express his displeasure over the raid at the apartment used as one of NIA’s safe houses in Lagos for its clandestine operations”.

According to a top official with knowledge of the situation this stunt by the EFCC has jeopardized operations of the NIA and may have compromised the identities of undercover operatives of the spy agency.

The NIA is the government security agency tasked with overseeing foreign intelligence and counterintelligence operations in Nigeria.Photo shared by EFCC purportedly of cash recovered in an Ikoyi apartment

According to another official who spoke with The Will, Magu staged this scoop because his confirmation as substantive chairman of the agency has been frustrated by the DSS and the Senate and he has been under pressure to show President Muhammadu Buhari the “billions of naira” he told the president during a meeting that the EFCC had recovered under his leadership.

“So he is on a reckless search for monies hence all these strings of raids and seizures within the last one week,” the source, who pleaded anonymity, said.

“I can authoritatively tell you that money belongs to the NIA. The DG has come forward to claim it and has informed my office of the development. He is furious with Magu for his agency’s recklessness and for compromising their operations,” the official is quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, Justice Muslim Hassan of a Federal High Court in Lagos Thursday ordered the temporary forfeiture of the cash and ordered that the funds be temporarily forfeited to the federal government and adjourned till May 5, 2017, for anyone interested in the funds to show up before him to show cause why the money should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

All Progressives Congress’, APC, online combatants including an aide to President Muhammadu Buhari had taken to social media to declare that the money belonged to Esther Nnamdi-Ogbue, a former managing director, at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. 

It was initially rumoured by aides of Buhari and APC propagandists that Esther Nnamdi-Ogbue, a retired director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), was the owner of the money. This was however, strongly refuted by Nnamdi-Ogbue through her lawyer.