Presidential committee on recovered Ikoyi money to work in secret

Charity Nnaji

The Presidential committee investigating corruption allegations against suspended officials of the Buhari’s administration has stated that it will conduct its work in secret.

In a press statement made available to newsmen, the Vice President’s Spokesman, Mr Laolu Akande, disclosed on Saturday in Abuja that conducting sitting in camera would enable all parties in the matter to make full disclosures.

Recalled that Muhammadu Buhari named Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to head the panel to investigate the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal and Director-General of National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayo Oke.

While Lawal was accused of legal and due process violations in the award of contracts to companies handling the resettlement programmes in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in the North-East; Oke was also accused of contraventions in the discovery of large sums of money in both foreign and local currencies by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in an apartment in Osborne, Ikoyi, Lagos.

The statement read in part, “In the discharge of its work, the panel is expected to invite all relevant officials and private individuals who may be connected to both cases.

“It will also obtain and scrutinize documents that may throw some light on the issues raised in both cases.

“All its proceedings will, however, be in closed sessions to avoid speculations, allow for full disclosure and enhance the pace of proceedings.”