There are indications that those responsible for stashing away over N13b in various currencies will soon face justice.
This followed the submission of report of the Babagana Kingibe Presidential technical panel which reviewed the operational, technical and administrative structure of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Tuesday.
President Buhari, while receiving the report, said “all those found culpable in the Osborne Towers scandal will be made to account and appropriately sanctioned”
But there are also indications that the trials of those involved may be done in secret so as not to compromise the nation’s security.
The money which where in both foreign currencies and Naira notes included $43.4m, £27,800 and N23.2m was uncovered following a tip off by a whistleblower who alerted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) about the money kept on the 7th floor of a four-bedroom apartment at Osborne Towers located at 16 Osborne Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, in April, this year.
President Buhari described the discovery of monies in the flat at Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos, in April this year, as an ‘‘unfortunate incident which rightly aroused public interest and outcry.’’
‘‘All the circumstances surrounding the obtaining, keeping custody and disbursement of the funds have been examined by the Vice President’s Committee and all those found to be culpable will be made to account and appropriately sanctioned.
‘‘However, it must be understood that this cannot be done in a manner that jeopardises national security or exposes the operations of any intelligence Agency, which must, by nature be conducted in secrecy.
‘‘Suffice it for me to assure all that justice will be done consistent with our anti-corruption policies,’’ the President said.
President Buhari commended the Presidential Review Panel on NIA led by Babagana Kingibe, who once served as Minister of Foreign Affairs, as well as Secretary to the government of the federations (SGF), for completing their assignment expeditiously.
The President also expressed the hope that the recommendations of the panel and that of an earlier Committee headed by the Vice President to look into the Osborne matter will assist Government in improving the operations of the NIA and the overall National Security architecture.
‘‘Your Panel’s recommendation, informed as they are by your collective experience and expertise in this field, should in particular help to reposition the NIA to better perform its vital functions with greater professionalism.
‘‘The Osborne Tower incident and its aftermath has also brought to the fore the need to review the entire National Security Architecture, which has now been in operation as established 31 years ago.
‘‘Once again, I thank you very much for undertaking this national assignment, ’’ he said.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was present at the presentation of the report by the panel which has Chief Albert Horsfall, Amb. Zakari Ibrahim and Amb. Ezekiel Oladeji, as members.
Tony Ailemen, Abuja
