Breaking: EFCC attempts to arrest former bosses of SSS, NIA

 An attempt by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to arrest the heads of the State Security Service (SSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) has reportedly caused tension in Abuja.

CELEBRITY NEWS reports that a combined team from the EFCC and Nigeria Police Force (NPF) attempted to arrest the former head of the NIA, Ayo Oke, as well as that of the SSS, Ita Ekpeyong, in their homes located at Mamman Nasir Street in the Asokoro district of Abuja .


 They were however resisted by armed security agents of the two agencies on guard. It was learnt that the tension that occurred thereafter caused serious traffic situation in the area. At the time of this report, none of the agencies had issued a formal explanation or given details concerning the incident. CELEBRITY NEW reports that Oke was first suspended and later sacked as investigations into the $43.45 million allegedly discovered in an apartment in Ikoyi, Lagos continued. The EFCC thereafter invited him and his wife, Folashade, for questioning. “In furtherance of its investigative activities to unravel the circumstances surrounding the $43.45 million cash recovered by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Lagos sometime in April 2017, the commission has invited former director general of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Ayodele Oke and his wife, Folashade Oke.


 “Oke had refused to honour previous invitations by the commission which resumed its investigation into the matter, following the federal government’s decision to relieve Oke of his position as DG. “Beside the couple, other suspects are equally being invited to determine their culpability or otherwise in the humongous cash, in foreign currencies and naira notes, stashed in a residential building at Osborne road Ikoyi, Lagos,” a statement by the EFCC had said.


On the other hand, Ekpenyong, who was made head of the SSS on September 8, 2010, was sacked by President Muhammadu Buhari and was replaced by Lawal Musa Daura. It is claimed that under him, the SSS allegedly became very partisan, especially as seen in the 2015 general elections and its reported harassment of opposition figures. At a time, the agency was alleged to have ransacked offices of those who have ties to the All Progressives Congress (APC).