The head of Nigeria’s National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayo Oke, has been suspended after anti-corruption officers found over $43 million in an empty flat in Lagos, Nigeria.
President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered a thorough investigation into how the country’s spy agency, headed by Mr Oke, came into possession of the money and whether it did so legally.
Unnamed intelligence officials have told local media that the money was kept in the flat for covert operations.
Mr Oke has not yet commented on the accusations.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said it had discovered the “humongous” amount of money in an apartment in Ikoyi.
The cash was sealed in plastic wrappers, hidden in filing cabinets and behind concealed panels in a wardrobe.
It was discovered by the EFCC officials after receiving a warning that a woman was involved in a “suspicious movement of bags in and out of a particular apartment in the building”.
“She comes looking haggard, with dirty clothes, but her skin didn’t quite match her appearance, perhaps a disguise,” said the EFCC in a statement.
The NIA, which is led by Mr Oke, had laid claim to the money, Mr Buhari’s office told the BBC.
Investigators of the inquiry are ordered to report within 14 days on who they believe authorised the release of the money to the NIA and whether any laws or security procedures had been breached.
Mr Oke will remain suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.
Upon taking office in May 2015 President Buhari promised to crack down on corruption in government. On Wednesday he also ordered an investigation into corruption allegations against a senior civil servant related to the use of funds intended for handling a humanitarian crisis in the northeast of the country.
Anti-corruption officials have uncovered bundles of cash in Nigeria this year.
