FG deliberately delayed payment to whistle-blower – Itse Sagay

chika ebuzor

November 14, 2017 8:14 AM

According to Sagay, the whistle-blower might run mad if he is given the commission.

The Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption chairman, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), has revealed why the Federal Government delayed the payment of commission to the whistle-blower who informed the EFCC of the money stashed in an apartment in Ikoyi.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had in April uncovered a cash haul - $43.4 million, £27,800 and N23.2 million stashed in a flat in Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos.

“What I gathered from my inquiry is that the man is not sufficiently stable to receive such a huge sum of money. He is like someone who will almost run mental when he gets the money and will use it in an irresponsible manner, attracting not only undesirable people but even danger to himself.

“I think what they wanted to do for him was to provide counsellors. Not just counsellors for character and mental situation but counsellors who would be like consultants that would help him to really invest the money and plan in such a way that he doesn’t throw it away in five minutes.

“They are trying to help him. Nobody is denying him anything. They are trying to help him but he just misunderstands the intention and like everyone that has been deprived for a long time, he is so desperate to have it, but from what I can see, if they just give him everything, it won’t last more than a month or two because so many people will start finding ways to get to him and taking their portions from him. So, they were just trying to help him but he became hysterical,” he added.

Sagay also said “It is better to pay him in tranches. I agree with the government because if not, he will throw it away. This is valuable money that government could have used for millions of unemployed and wretchedly poor people.

“One man is getting it and he just wants it so that he can blow it all in five minutes? No, the government has a responsibility to see that his excitement does not end in seeing the money being thrown away irresponsibly. So, I agree with the government.”

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Who owns the apartment?

The owner of the apartment where the huge amount of foreign currency was found is yet to be identified, according to reports.

You will recall that the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Sani Jaji, said that they are getting messages from different quarters, attempting to influence the report of his committee.

The committee also alleged that they are being pressured not to spill names of the real masterminds of the 'loot'.

chika ebuzor