We gathered last night that PMB has stepped into the controversial issue of the N13billion EFCC recovered from Osborne Tower in Ikoyi Lagos earlier.
Buhari, according to high level sources, directed the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami (SAN) to get status reports on the money from the EFCC and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) which is claiming ownership of the cash.
The AGF subsequently invited both agencies to brief him on the situation.
He now has all the details, sources said.
Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Director General Dakuku Peterside charged back yesterday at Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, for saying the seized $43million was money stolen from the state by Amaechi.
Amaechi, the immediate past governor of the state, denied ownership of the money and the Ikoyi, Lagos apartment from where the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recovered the suspected loot on Wednesday.
He labelled Wike’s allegation as the latest in the long list of “blatant lies with no proof, same old concocted stories of corruption allegations against Amaechi told with different flavours.”
He called the Governor a rabble rouser, and his allegations false, malicious, despicable, irresponsible, reckless, disgraceful and diversionary.
It was learnt that AGF Malami may explain the cash status to Nigerians after clearance from Buhari with a view to laying the controversy to rest.
The government is said to be worried that comments coming from Governors Nyesom Wike (Rivers) and Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti) are capable of complicating the matter.
Investigation showed that the President on Thursday asked Malami to get status reports from the EFCC and NIA on the controversial sack.
A source familiar with the development said:
“What many Nigerians do not know is that the President is a man of due process and he does not rush to judgment.
“Although he got to know of EFCC operation in the media, the Director-General of NIA, Amb. Ayo Oke personally briefed him on Thursday morning at his residence in the presence of the AGF and a few others (names withheld).
“At the session, the President raised some issues on staff houses and the cash which the NIA DG clarified. And on the spot, the President gave an order that the cash be kept in the Central Bank
(CBN).
“He also directed that the AGF should get official brief from NIA and EFCC.The Minister supervises EFCC and the President asked him to examine the circumstances surrounding the recovery and come up with a report.
“Malami has received reports/ brief from the two agencies and will report back to the President before making an official declaration on the status of the money.”
