Wike, NIA Fight over Recovered Loot

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and the National Intelligence Agency have both claimed ownership of the $43 million cash haul recovered last week by the EFCC at an apartment in Ikoyi, Lagos.

The cash, which has not been claimed by anyone has been linked to people who have all denied ownership.

The latest alleged owner is serving Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi who the Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose claims owns the apartment (7B), where the money was found.

A national daily had earlier reported that the money belonged to the NIA, which media reports stated had written a formal letter to President Muhammadu Buhari to claim ownership of the money.
NIA, which is Nigeria’s foreign intelligence service, explained that the money, which was found on the seventh floor of the building, was approved by former President Goodluck Jonathan for covert operations and security projects covering a period of years.

The money was said to have been released in bits during the tenure of a former NIA director-general before the advent of the Treasury Single Account.

According to a report by The Punch, an anonymous source at the NIA says “The money belongs to the NIA. It is for covert operations and security projects covering a period of years.The DG has met with the President, he has explained everything to him. The President asked him to put everything into writing and he has done so.”

The governor of Rivers State has however laid claim to the money on behalf of the state. In a meeting with newsmen, “He said, “All these things they are saying that the $43m belong to the Nigerian Intelligence Agency is balderdash. When did the NIA begin to keep money in houses? As I speak to you now, the Federal Government is so embarrassed.

“I want the President to set up a commission of inquiry. We don’t want to fight anybody; they should set up a commission of inquiry or return our money within seven days. If they don’t, we will take all necessary legal actions and NIA will come and prove where they got the money from”.