The detectives are to question a former governor and some high-profile owners of apartments in Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos where $43.4million was recovered last Wednesday.
Besides, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has identified how the controversial apartment 7B, where the $43.4m was kept, was acquired. Also recovered were £27,000 and N23m cash.
The EFCC has intensified investigation into the roles played by some apartment owners and tenants on how the cash was brought into the Towers.
The anti-graft agency is said to be suspecting that some owners or tenants may have been complicit in the matter.
A source said: “The more we investigate this $43.4m haul, the more we get fresh facts. It has become imperative to interact with some owners or tenants of apartments in the Towers.
“We have invited a former governor and other high-profile owners and tenants for interaction. It is just to ask a few questions on whether or not they were aware of such movement of cash.
“We have clues linking some occupants of the Towers to the cash haul. And in line with sections 16 and 17 of the EFCC (Establishment Act) 2004, we are inviting these landlords or tenants.
“Unless we get to the root of this case, Nigerians may not know the truth or otherwise about the cash.
“We are not saying that those invited are guilty of any infraction or having link with the $43.4million but we need to hear from them – in line with the ongoing profiling of those in the Towers.”
Sections 16 and 17 of the EFCC Act reads: “A person when – (a) whether by concealment. removal from jurisdiction, transfer to nominees or otherwise retains the control of the proceeds of a criminal conduct or an illegal act on behalf of another person knowing that the proceeds is as a result of criminal conduct by the principal, or (b) knowing that any property is in whole, or in part, directly or indirectly represent another person’s proceeds of a criminal conduct, acquires or uses that property or has possession of it, commits an office and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not less than five years or to a fine equivalent 105 times the value of the proceeds of the criminal conduct or to both such imprisonment and fine.'
“(1) A person who, without lawful authority (a) engages in the acquisition, possession or use of property knowing at the time of its acquisition, possession or use that such property was derived from any offence referred to in this section, or
(b) engages in the management, organisation of financing of any of the offences under this Act; or(c) engages in the conversion or transfer of property knowing that such property is derived from any offence under this Act; or
(d) engages in the concealment or disguise of the true nature, source, location, disposition, movement, rights with respect to or ownership of property knowing that such property is derived from any offence referred to in this section, commits an offence under this Act and is liable on conviction to the penalties provided in Subsection (2) of this section.
”The penalties for offences under subsection (I) of this section shall be imprisonment for a term not less than 15 years and not exceeding 25 years.”
Meanwhile, there were indications yesterday that the EFCC had been able to trace how the controversial 7B apartment, where the $43.4m was kept, was acquired.
Another source said detectives discovered that the 7B Apartment was bought in the name of a company allegedly owned by the wife of a senior government official.
“Since investigation is still ongoing, we will not release the identity of the owner of the company. Doing so might jeopardise investigation,” the source said, adding that the EFCC had interacted with “some people from the company.”
A National Intelligence Agency (NIA) source said of the apartment: “What happened was that because of the nature of the covert operations which the apartment will be used for, it was necessary to manage the process well.”
Only the Deed of Assignment was acquired by Thabis Ventures Limited on behalf of NIA. “And immediately the process for the purchase of the apartment was completed, the ownership was clearly stated in the name of NIA. All the papers are reflecting NIA too, he said, adding: “The title document is available for anyone to verify.”
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Why all this story EFCC?
ReplyDeleteCan another person keep money in another man apartment?
The owner of 7b apartment owns the money why are u calling crowd ?
Sp sorry for nigerians
Don't mind the jokers. And who is the former governor, former governor of which state. May God deliver this nasty country
DeleteAre they talking to kids or they are trying to perfect their cover up. The whistle blower is an insider, he knows the true identity of owner. We know the former Governor is Adamu Muazu, why raise our suspicion to confuse us to protect Amaechi. You can't hide truth for long.
DeleteEffc themselves are show how partial and biased they are, why don't you mention the name of the ex governor?
ReplyDeleteThis useless clueless primitive APC government is making Nigeria a laughing stock in the committee of nations. It is a shame that this shameless government have continue to play on the collective intelligence of Nigerians by throwing money around to claim that they are fighting corruption. When APC members are involved government agency will look the other way and try to cover it up.
ReplyDeleteThis government will continue to bring more pains misery and hardship min Nigeria by their actions. First they went all over the world to tell the whole world how corrupt Nigerians are and that Nigerians are thieves and rouges. Then recession set it because of the de -marketing cos many investors withdraw their investment. Now this set of primitive clueless people are now showing the entire world billions of Dollars thinking that they can fool everybody. Tomorrow they will go to UN and other donor agencies to beg for aids to feed the millions of starving children in Nigeria.It is sad were this APC useless government has put Nigeria in, It is a Sham, Charade, Wicked and utter nonsense.
Investigation is ongoing people should wait for just some weeks, the real truth will come out for public
ReplyDeleteWHEN WILL WE STOP MALL THIS ABRACADABRA HULLABALLO GAME? LET THEM STOP HIDING THIS SHAMEFULL ACTS. HAS EFCC BECOME DEAF AND DUMB? OR ARE HIDING SOME BIG UNTOUCHABLE SHOTS? WHO IS DECEIVING WHO? TRUST OUR ROMANS-LIKE FICKLE MENTALITY. THIS WILL SOON FIZZLE OUT LIKE OTHERS. THIS EFCC WILL SOON SURPASS NOLLYWOOD IN SHOWIN OBSCENE VIDEOS. WHY NOT NAME AND SHAME AS WELL? ALL T5HESE MONIES FOUND ALREADY WHERE ARE THEY? WHAT OF THE SO-CALLED OWNERS? AND THESE CRIMINALS THAT KEPT NIGERIANS THIS WAY ARE WALKING FREE, EVEN SERVING IN GOVERNMENT. SHAME. AND WE BELIEVED AND VOTED FOR BUHARI. IT SEEMS WE MISPLACED OUR VOTES. FORGET THESE MOUTH-WATERING FINDS, WE WILL SOON FORGET THEM AND LIFE CONTINUES. IT WAS PLEA BARGAIN BEFORE. NOTHING CAME OUT OF IT. NOW WE ARE GLUED TO THE TELEVISION WATCHING THE CURRENT EFFC WOOD. WE ARE DOOMED. NIGERIA IS DOOMED. DON'T SAY AMEN. Jay 2, Abuja.
ReplyDeleteVery annoying comment, with mumu writing style.
Delete