EXCLUSIVE: NIA collected $289m cash from NAPIMS account in 2015
The National Intelligence Agency (NIA) collected $289,202,382 in cash from the account of the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) in February 2015 after the postponement of the general election, TheCable understands.
NAPIMS is a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) which manages the investments of the national oil company.
It was also from NNPC’s accounts that the office of the national security adviser withdrew the bulk of the $2.1 billion it got for “Boko Haram operations” in the months leading to the 2015 elections.
TheCable understands funds were approved for NIA’s “covert operations” by President Goodluck Jonathan and subsequently withdrawn in cash from NAPIMS account at CBN.
The entire NIA budget for 2015 was a little over N25 billion which was about $160 million at the time — further suggesting that the payment was extra-budgetary.
The Department of State Services (DSS) also got huge sums of cash in naira and dollars for “covert operations” in the run-up to the elections.
These revelations are coming in the light of the recovery of $43 million, £27,000 and N23 million in a flat in Ikoyi, Lagos state, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following a tip-off from a whistle blower.
NIA said it was its money and that it was meant for “covert operations” — according to reports.
There is now strong suspicion that the Ikoyi haul might have been part of the $289,202,382 released to the agency two years ago.
A presidency source had told TheCable that President Muhammadu Buhari was not briefed on the funds which were warehoused at a private apartment.
Although Oke reportedly said the apartment belongs to NIA, Sahara Reporters alleged that it belongs to Chobe Ventures — owned by Folashade Oke.
The now suspended NIA DG has a wife named Folashade Oke, further fuelling speculation that it was a family affair.
But NIA is said to have claimed that the money was only “in transit” at the Ikoyi apartment for onward movement to the agency’s property elsewhere.
“The circumstances make everything suspicious,” the senior presidency official told TheCable.
Buhari has set up a three-man panel to investigate both Oke and Babachir Lawal, secretary to the government of the federation, over various allegations.
Oke was appointed by Jonathan as the NIA DG in November 2013 and retained by Buhari, even though he replaced other security chiefs in August 2015.
Oke’s tenure is up in November 2017.
After all said and done, people will realise that this $43 million is Jonathan’s era loot and they will shut up.
I’ve always said that there is nothing like Dasukigate, Dasuki has no gate, he was just a gate man, Manning the gate for for the owner of the gate, and we all know who owns the gate.
This is a security issue that should be managed in private.
Your head Dey shake
due process was not follow govt should not be harbour in a private residence.
If this latest discovery is anything to go by then the culpability of the ex-president is established. The panel should do thorough investigation and bring these guys to book without future ado. God bless Nigeria!
The conclusion of the investigation will put more light to the issue .
But why is the money not kept in NIA bank account when the money is not needed for now
We are seriously in Mess in this country, God know the level of public money that are in people home. Kudos to Whistle Blower
but its constitutionally allow for the whole agency to keep money in a personal buildings which is not deposits money banks such is questionable and the kind of cover work should be reveal to Nigerian, this country have becomes a dungeon or safe heaven for looters,what happen with the e banking
Before going to the my main point of view concerning this issue,I will like to commend the EFCC and d whistle blower for a job weldone. I will also like to commend d administration of President Muhammadu Bihari for it fight against corruption. It is now very obvious that this money in question is a looted money and it belongs to d federal government. The DG to the NIA stole this money that is d main reason why he never save d money back to the NIA account. He is corrupt,and he should be sack permanently.concerning the apartment, it belongs to him,but since he said it belongs to the NIA, it should also be sized by d federal government. I pray may God continue to expose all d corrupt leaders that don’t wish d development of this nation. And may God give our President d wisdom and strength to rule the nation
Kudos to the whistle blower. We appreciate your courage.
Do we realize what this money could have done in transforming lives of the underprivileged persons and/or “hard to reach” communities in terms of healthcare, education, other infrastructures?
Cheap Rogues – (inter)national ‘thief thief’!
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#Mailambus_mad_mails (#mmm)
Let’s agree with a point here,a criminal is a criminal.Just because you are a Christian or Muslim, Yoruba, Hausa or Igbo that is immaterial, and we should not use it to cover or shield criminals who may have never impacted on any one until their cup was full.Enough is enough let’s call a dog by his name