NewsRescue
- Updated at bottom
Unconfirmed reports from intelligence sources have alleged that transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi is the owner of apartment 7B on the 7th floor in which $50 million dollars ($43m, N23m and £27,000) was found Wednesday in Osborne towers Gerrard road Ikoyi Lagos.
Government Magic
The sources allege that Nigerian Intelligence Agency, NIA has seized the funds from the EFCC who made the recovery on a tipoff from a whistleblower.
Minister Rotimi Amechi is said to own flat 7A and 7B. He allegedly gave flat 7a to his girlfriend Mo Abudu, a TV presenter.
So far several eminent Nigerians have been accused and denied ownership of the apartment in the building bought my Muazu but repossessed by GTB bank for failure to pay. These include Senator Yayi of Lagos and Sacked NNPC Managing Director Nnamdi-Ogbue all own apartments in the building. Former Anambra state governor Peter Obi also has an apartment in the building.
We are verifying the apartment ownership and will furnish more details shortly…
Update from theWILL:
The National Intelligence Agency (NIA) is claiming ownership of the $43,449,947, £27,800 and N23, 218,000 seized Wednesday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission from Osborne Towers, a luxury residential complex in Ikoyi, Lagos, owned by Mr. Adamu Muazu, a former governor of Bauchi state and ex-National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), THEWILL has gathered exclusively.
The NIA is the government security agency tasked with overseeing foreign intelligence and counterintelligence operations in Nigeria.
A ranking government official with knowledge of the latest twist to the seizure confirmed to THEWILL that NIA Director General, Ambassador Ayodele Oke, has been in touch in EFCC’s boss, Ibrahim Magu, to express his displeasure over the raid at the apartment used as one of NIA’s safe houses in Lagos for its clandestine operations.
The official said Magu, whose confirmation as substantive chairman of the agency has been frustrated by the DSS and the Senate, has been under pressure to show President Muhammadu Buhari the billions of naira he told the president during a meeting that the EFCC had recovered under his leadership. “So he is on a reckless search for monies hence all these strings of raids and seizures within the last one week,” the source who asked not be identified said.
“I can authoritatively tell you that money belongs to the NIA. The DG has come forward to claim it and has informed my office of the development. He is furious with Magu for his agency’s recklessness and for compromising their operations,” the official told THEWILL.
Meanwhile, Justice Muslim Hassan of a Federal High Court in Lagos Thursday ordered the temporary forfeiture of the cash and ordered that the funds be temporarily forfeited to the Federal Government and adjourned till May 5, 2017, for anyone interested in the funds to show up before him to show cause why the money should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
Update: Amaechi, Fayose Aides Trade Words Over Ownership – Vanguard
Mr. David Iyofor, a media aide to the Minister of Transport and former Governor of Rivers state, Rotimi Amaechi has returned a punch thrown at the Transport Minister by Mr. Lere Olayinka, a media aide to the Ekiti state Governor, Ayodele Fayose, who accused the minister of being connected with the over N5billion recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC at a Lagos house on Wednesday.
In a statement made on his Facebook page, Fayose’s aide had alleged that the Transport Minister owns the house where the alleged looted money was found by the anti-graft agency.
But in response, Amaechi’s aide said the allegation is false, warning Mr. Olayinka to delete the allegation or face jail term.
According to Olayinka, “The Osborne Towers, a luxury residential complex in Ikoyi, Lagos where EFCC said it found $43,449,947, £27,800 and N23, 218,000 on Wednesday is owned by the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.”
“The house was built by Alhaji Adamu Muazu, the former Chairman of PDP
through a loan from GTBank.”
“He could not repay the loan so GTB took over the house and allocated the Pent House to Muazu and two flats.”
“Rotimi Amaechi bought TWO of the flats (7A and 7B). He then gave 7A to MO ABUDU, the TV presenter, who is suspected to be his girl friend.”
“But the flat 7B where the money was found belong to Rotimi Amaechi. The is believed to be cash kept for 2019 elections.”
“Let’s see how the cover up game goes.”
But replying Olayinka, Mr. Iyofor said, “Lere or whatever you call yourself, delete your lies or be ready to face the consequences of stupidity and utter foolishness.”
“You better hear well before your ear sends you to prison. Lying is not playing Politics. You dont play politics by tweeting outright lies.”
“Where is your proof? If you think you can link Amaechi to the House&money by tweeting this rubbish, then you need to have your head examine.”
“Big Liar! Demonic Liar! Listen, you disgusting pig, Rotimi Amaechi is not connected or linked in anyway whatsoever to the house &/or money.”
Update April 14: Mo Abudu admits owning apartment 7A