In spite of the standoff with the Department
of State Security Service (DSS), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) has raised two teams to probe allegations against a former
Director-General of DSS Mr. Ita Ekpenyong and ex-Director-General of the
National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Mr. Ayo Oke.
While Ita might be interrogated
in Abuja in connection with the $2.1billion arms procurement by the Office of
National Security Adviser (ONSA), the ex-NIA DG is likely to clarify a few
things before a separate panel in Lagos on the $43.4million recovered from a
flat at Osborne Towers.
Oke’s appearance might however be
delayed because he is assisting the Presidency in the ongoing re-organisation
of the NIA.
There are indications that the
Presidency may wade in the inter-agency crisis between the DSS and the EFCC.
The EFCC has decided to push
ahead with the investigation of Ekpenyong and Oke.
EFCC acting chairman Ibrahim Magu
told reporters at the Aso Villa yesterday that he was not discouraged about
Tuesday’s failed attempt to arrest former Director-General of the Department of
State Security (DSS), Ita Ekpeyong, and former head of the National
Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayo Oke.
He said no one is above the law
and that the agency has concrete evidence against the former heads of DSS and
NIA.
He insisted that the law will
take its course.
A source in the commission said:
“There is no going back on any of the ongoing investigation because the EFCC is
carrying out presidential directives.
“We have invited these former
chief executives of top-flight security agencies for interaction. And in
fairness, they are willing to appear before our teams.
The EFCC has always opened a line
of communication with them and they have cooperated so far.
“The EFCC is not overbearing
because all the reports referred to us for follow-up were actually not
generated by this commission.
“The President actually mandated
this commission to work on these reports.
“As part of his commitment to
anti-graft war, President Muhammadu Buhari raised a Special Investigative
Committee on Arms Procurement, which was headed by AVM JON Ode, and the report
of the panel was sent to the EFCC for further investigation. It was on this
basis we have invited some former Service Chiefs, a former National Security
Adviser and others.
“Also, based on the directive of
the President, a committee led by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo
looked into the circumstances behind the $43.4million recovered from a flat in
Osborne Towers. And the President directed further investigation.
“The normal procedure is to
conduct discreet investigation and when a case has reached a maturity stage,
you are to invite those concerned. We do not rush into any case.
But when anyone is invited and he
or she refuses, we always allow the law to take its course by obtaining a
warrant of arrest.
“Nigerians need to appreciate
that we have been on some of these investigations in the last one and a half
years.”
On the case of the former DG of
DSS, another source added: “The EFCC and the DSS have been on this case for
more than one month on the need for Ekpenyong and some officers to appear for
questioning. It has been a dingdong affair between the two agencies.”
It was learnt that the DSS was
opposed to the arrest of its former DG in order to “protect the integrity of
the service.”
A source said: “Nobody is saying
that our former DG should not appear before the EFCC but we want a civil and
polite procedure adopted.
“As a responsible agency, the DSS
wanted a process in which it will collaborate and even facilitate the procedure
of interacting with Ekpenyong. We are only opposed to the gangster style of the
EFCC when it is obvious that a suspect is presumed innocent until proven
guilty.
“The DSS is looking at the larger
picture and security implications of hauling a former DG into cell on mere
allegations. So, it is a disagreement on method.”
But a source added: “When Supreme
Court judges and others were arrested, was the DSS approach tidier at all in
line with the Rule of Law? Did the NJC make input? Was the ex-CJN aware before
or after the sting operations?”
Concerning the ex-DG of NIA, a
top source said: “Oke has always cooperated with the EFCC, there was no basis
for the operation conducted in his house on Tuesday with a view to arresting
him.
“The same ex-DG of NIA is
assisting a three-man presidential committee working on the reorganization of
the agency. He was actually directed to be on standby for his input and to
guide the committee.
“It is certainly impossible for
Oke to be in Lagos and Abuja at the same time. As soon as he is done with the
reorganization committee, he will have interaction with the EFCC.
“In deference to EFCC’s
investigation, Oke has not traveled out of Abuja since he was suspended. He
does not want either to be accused of obstructing justice or running away. He
is now having a feeling that maybe the EFCC was out to frustrate or kill him.
He felt bad that a siege was laid on his residence by a 28-man team when he has
always been available in Abuja.”
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