President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Abuja said all those found culpable in the Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos scandal would be called to account for their deeds and properly sanctioned.
The President made this known while receiving a report in Abuja of the panel established to review the operational, technical and administrative structure of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).
The President described the discovery of monies in the apartment 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.
While commending the Presidential Review Panel on NIA led by Amb. Babagana Kingibe, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, for completing their assignment assiduously, he expressed hope that the recommendations of the panel and that of an earlier Committee headed by the Vice President looking into the matter will assist Government in improving the overall National Security architecture and operations of the NIA.
‘‘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 pane also containing Chief Albert Horsfall, Amb. Zakari Ibrahim and Amb. Ezekiel Oladeji, as members.
The EFCC on April 12 discovered 43.4 million dollars, 27,000 pounds and N23.2 million in cash in an apartment at the towers.
The Federal Government has already paid N421 million to the whistleblower that provided the information leading to the discovery of the cash.
Leave a Reply