Money Laundering: EFCC Declares Ex-NIA DG Wanted

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared a former Director General (DG) of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayodele Oke, and his wife, Folashade, wanted for failing to answer for the money laundering charges levelled against them.

Acting Head, Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Tony Orilade, disclosed the decision of the anti-graft agency in a statement on Sunday.

The EFCC had earlier filed a four-count criminal charge against the duo before the Federal High Court in Lagos.

Justice Chukwujeku Aneke of a Federal High Court Lagos, had on February 7, 2019, issued an arrest warrant against the duo, consequent upon an oral application by Rotimi Oyedepo, the EFCC counsel.

The arraignment before the judge was not unconnected with the sums of $43,449,947, £27,800 and N23,218,000 (totalling N13billion) removed by the EFCC from Flat 7B Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos in April 2017.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Amb. Ayodele Oke and Mrs. Folasade Ayodele Oke between 25th day of August 2015 and 2nd day of September 2015 in Lagos, with in the jurisdiction of this court directly converted $160,777,136.85 property of the Federal Government of Nigeria to your own use which sum you reasonably ought to have known formed part of proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: criminal breach of trust and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.”