Buhari set to fire NIA boss

The Director General of the NIA, Ayodele Oke, has been running round the presidential villa since the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) raided flat 7B, No. 16 Osborne Road, Ikoyi, presidency sources told Pulse, Saturday.

Reports have since revealed that the cash, neatly arranged and concealed in cabinets behind wooden panels of a bedroom wardrobe, were for a "covert operation" being put together by the NIA.

The NIA is an intelligence security outfit marooned in the same space occupied by the Department of State Security (DSS) on the outskirts of the presidential Villa in Abuja.

The NIA reports to the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) now headed by Babagana Monguno.

Oke has been trying to explain to President Muhammadu Buhari why the huge stash of cash was lodged in a private apartment and not a government facility.

He's practically making a case to keep his job at the moment, Pulse was told.

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"Buhari is surprised that the NIA is claiming the money", a source at the Villa told Pulse. "The NIA has official safes where the money should have been kept.

"The President has been completely taken aback by events because, if a covert operation that will require that amount of cash has to take place, as the Commander-In-Chief, Buhari should be aware, but he wasn't", the source added.

A couple of other sources in the Villa have also disclosed to Pulse that Oke, who was appointed DG of NIA by immediate past President Goodluck Jonathan in 2013, is only an official announcement away from losing his job.

"He's a goner", one source disclosed. "There's no way back for him now. First, Buhari doesn't trust him any longer after what has just happened. Second, he was boss of NIA under former and you know the rest of the Dasuki story.

"It's a miracle that he wasn't swept away when Buhari replaced all the service chiefs as soon as he assumed the reins. But now, the President must have realised that he made a mistake by keeping him on".

Villa sources say the huge stash of cash may not be unconnected to the alleged theft of monies meant for procurement of weapons under Dasuki.

There are insinuations from within the power corridors that Oke still launders cash for Dasuki who is facing trial for misappropriating billions of dollars earmarked for equipping the military during the Jonathan administration.

According to our sources, Buhari is pleased with acting EFCC Chairman Ibrahim Magu for the operation that uncovered the cash and has since ordered the anti-graft agency to deposit the haul at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Online news platform, Sahara Reporters says the meeting between Oke and Buhari was a charged one.

During the meeting, Oke reportedly explained to the President that the National Security Adviser, Monguno, was fully briefed about the covert operation and its progress.

Oke also said the money was part of his agency's budget, even though questions have been asked about what year's budget the money came from.

The meeting ended with President Buhari asking Mr. Oke to reapply for fresh funding for the covert project, Sahara Reporters said.

However, the presidency has been left confused and embarrassed by recent developments as it concerns the recovered cash, Villa sources told Pulse.

To put the confusion and embarrassment being felt by the presidency in context, there's been no official statement from Aso Villa or EFCC, 48 hours after news broke that the money has been claimed by the NIA.

The anti-graft agency rebuffed a plea for comments on the story from Pulse, on Friday.

Villa sources also told Pulse that on Friday, the president's spokesperson, Garba Shehu, enquired from Magu if he should put out a statement in the light of recent developments.

Magu asked Shehu to hold on since Nigerians are in the middle of Easter celebrations and since there are still a few loose ends to the saga.

"Expect a presidency statement soon, maybe after the Easter holidays",Pulse was told by a top presidency official, Saturday.

The official added: "It's a sensitive security issue and we have to take our time before releasing an official statement concerning this".