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EFCC resumes investigations into $43.4m Osborne towers money

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-EFCC resumes investigations into $43.4m unclaimed Osborne tower funds.

-The investigation was allegedly suspended to allow the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo led investigative panel conclude its work.

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EFCC has started invited individuals both within and outside the NIA for interrogations on the Osborne tower funds.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-opened investigations into the $43.4 million cash recovered at Osborne Towers in Ikoyi, Lagos which led to Monday’s sacking of National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Director-General Ayo Oke by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Following the sacking of both officials, the presidency had further given its backing to the EFCC to continue probes into events that led to the sack of the former NIA boss, Ayo Oke as well as the sacked Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal.

Information obtained by Naija News, shows that the EFCC had received the report of the Presidential Investigative Committee headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo which indicted the two sacked officials and has re-opened investigations into the matter.

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The EFCC deferred action on the interrogation of some suspects because it wanted the Osinbajo panel to conclude its assignment.

READ ALSO: EFCC recovers N11.9 million stolen by RCCG deacon

A top source within the EFCC, who spoke on condition of anonymity last night, said: “On Tuesday, we resumed the ongoing probe of the $43.4million, 27,000 pounds and N23.2million recovered on April 12, 2017 from the seventh floor of a four-bedroom apartment at Osborne Towers located on 16, Osborne Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

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“We have shortlisted more suspects for interrogation and we are likely to pick them up any moment from now. Some of the suspects are NIA men including those in the Finance Unit.

“Don’t forget that the then Acting President approved the redeployment of NIA’s Director of Finance and some officials in the Finance Unit as part of the ongoing review of the finances of the agency.”

“Some of the detectives might still visit Lagos for more forensic evidence on some of the suspects,” the source said.

Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, has also reportedly assembled a team of detectives to work on the investigation.

Recall that Justice Muslim Hassan, of the Federal High Court in Lagos, had on June 6, 2017 granted a final forfeiture order of the funds to the federal government since no one appeared before the court to claim them.