Ayo Oke, Suspended NIA DG, Bars From Meeting Osinbajo At The Villa

Embattled Ayo Oke

Ambassador Ayodele Oke, suspended director-general of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), was prevented from meeting Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo at the presidential villa in Abuja on Wednesday.

The embattled Oke, who was said to have made desperate attempts to enter the villa, Abuja shortly after his suspension was announced, was turned back.

He was said to have been driven towards the service chiefs’ gate from where he was turned back.

Oke then reportedly left the premises without meeting the Nigeria;s number two man.

President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier Wednesday suspended Oke over the monies which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recovered from a flat in Osborne Tower in Ikoyi last week.

Also Engr. Babachir Lawal, secretary to the government of the federation, was also suspended pending the outcome of an investigation into the committee on the humanitarian crisis in the north-east which indicted him of corruption.

Mr Femi Adesina, presidential spokesman in a press statement on Wednesday said President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the suspension of Messrs Babachir Lawal and Oke.

Vice-President Osinbajo is to head a three-man panel to probe the allegations against Oke and lawal.

In December, the senate had called for the resignation of Lawal after its committee indicted him of corruption.

There was public outcry over the refusal of the president to take action on the resolution of the upper legislative chamber.‎

“President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered an investigation into the allegations of violations of law and due process made against the secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), Mr David Babachir Lawal, in the award of contracts under the Presidential Initiative on the North-east (PINE),” the statement by Adesina read.

“The president has also directed the suspension of the SGF from office pending the outcome of the investigations.”

Buhari also ordered an investigation into the discovery of huge stash of monies at a flat in a luxury Ikoyi building by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

“In a related development, the president has ordered a full scale investigation into the discovery of large amounts of foreign and local currencies by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a residential apartment at Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos, over which the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) has made a claim,” the statement read.

“The investigation is also to enquire into the circumstances in which the NIA came into possession of the funds, how and by whose or which authority the funds were made available to the NIA, and to establish whether or not there has been a breach of the law or security procedure in obtaining custody and use of the funds.

“The president has also directed the suspension of the Director General of the NIA, Ambassador Ayo Oke, pending the outcome of the investigation.

“A three-man committee comprising the Hon attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, and the national security adviser, headed by the vice president, is to conduct both investigations.

“The committee is to submit its report to the president within 14 days.

“The most senior permanent secretary in the SGF’s office, and the most senior officer in the NIA, are to act, respectively, during the period of investigation.”