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EFCC Quizzes NIA Director, As Buhari Jets Out For Another Medical Vacation

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By Our Reporter
NationalTrail can authoritatively report that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has invited some officials of the National Intelligence Agency for questioning over the alleged involvement of their embattled director general in the controversy surrounding the cash found in an apartment in Lagos.
Our correspondent reports that, those invited include a director (name withheld) as well as two accountants, through whose hands money belonging to the NIA passes. There has been no official statement on this latest development, but it is believed their interrogation may not be unconnected with the ongoing probe into the Ikoyi billions.
It will be recalled that the EFCC uncovered $43m cash as well as money in other currencies at Osborne Towers, Ikoyi recently. The Director General of NIA, Ayo Oke said the money belongs to his agency.
The DG was subsequently suspended along with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, who was alleged to have wrongfully awarded contracts under the Presidential Initiative on the North East.
Consequently, a   three-man probe panel led by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was set up and has concluded its work last week, but the report which was supposed to have been submitted to the President this week may have to wait until President Muhammadu Buhari’s return from yet another medical vacation to London.
It was not immediately clear how President Muhammadu Buhari’s trip will affect the  submission of Osinbajo’s report, but if the remarks credited to Buhari’s media aide is anything to go by, Osinbajo will continue to run affairs in the president’s absence, and may not submit the report to himself as acting President..
National Trail learnt on Monday when the report was supposed to have been submitted that even as the panel was working on its mandate, EFCC continued with its probe into the cash haul by inviting the NIA officials for questioning especially about the agency’s finances.
Findings at the EFCC could not confirm if the NIA officials were detained, contrary to claims by our sources earlier, which confirmed that the officials were invited but they were in fact released early last week. The source said: “Early last week, a director and two accountants were invited by the EFCC but released unconditionally.”
When contacted for clarification, an official of the EFCC denied knowledge, saying, he was “not aware of any NIA officials” being quizzed.
Experts have continued to debate over the propriety or inappropriateness of the disclosures of NIA funds. Those kicking against full disclosure are being accused of trying to “deodorize the scam.” A source insisting on full disclosures argued for instance that “The most decorated and celebrated General in recent US history General David Petreaus as CIA Chief was disgraced from office. General Flynn is even a recent example. Investigation has opened on his relationship with the Russians because he refused to make full disclosure.”
Other officials at NIA argued that it was inappropriate to treat funds allocated for intelligence the same manner as you handle normal programmes as there are always cover stories for security projects. But the most profound argument for caution on revelations on NIA expenditure was made by Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, a former Minister of External Affairs.
According Akinyemi, “External Intelligence operations do not belong into the same security genre as domestic security forces such as the SSS, EFCC and the Police.”
“External Intelligence officers, otherwise called spies, do not operate under the same operational penalties as domestic intelligence officers.
“The ultimate penalty for a foreign spy in most countries is death. Countries go to incredible lengths to hide the identities of their agents both domestic and foreign and their operations. No receipts get issued. Budgets are called black budgets because they are never publicly acknowledged”, he said.
How much of Akinyemi’s advice mthe federal government will take remains to be seen as the EFCC has dragged the cash haul to court seeking total forfeiture of the money uncovered.
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Crime

3 Egyptians arrested for assault at University of Calabar Teaching Hospital

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The Cross River Police Command has arrested three Egyptian nationals for allegedly assaulting a female security officer at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH).

The suspects Mohammed Ayan, 24; Mohammed Mohammed, 40; and Ahmed Mohammed, 20 were said to have entered the hospital premises around 12 noon on Monday to hawk household items, an act prohibited within the facility.

Zagazola confirmed from sources that a security officer, Christiana Ada Ewa, 34, attached to the hospital’s surveillance unit, attempted to stop the men from hawking when one of them, Ayan, allegedly assaulted her.

Her colleague, Ethan Ita Ansa, 24, intervened, resulting in a physical altercation between the parties. During the scuffle, Ansa’s uniform was torn and he sustained a finger injury, while Ayan also suffered bruises on his right eyebrow and knees.

Police detectives promptly visited the scene and arrested the suspects. The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for discreet investigation.

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Army officer dies after being set ablaze by wife in Akwa Ibom.

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A Nigerian Army officer, Lt. Samson Haruna, has died after sustaining severe burns when his wife allegedly set him ablaze during a domestic dispute at Wellington Bassey Barracks, Ibagwa, Abak Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom.

Zagazola Makama learnt that the tragic incident occurred on Sept. 22, 2025.

The source said the officer, who was also a medical doctor attached to the 6 Battalion Regimental Medical Officer (RMO), had a heated argument with his wife, Mrs. Samson Haruna, which resulted in her dousing him with petrol (PMS) and setting him on fire.

“The officer sustained severe burns and was immediately stabilised at the Military Reference Section (MRS) in the barracks before being evacuated to the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital for further management,” the source said.

The officer, however, succumbed to his injuries despite efforts by medical personnel to save his life.

It was further gathered that the suspect has been arrested and is currently in custody while an investigation into the incident is ongoing.

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Police arrest suspected armed robber, recover firearms and POS machines in Abuja

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The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested a suspected armed robber and recovered a locally-made pistol and several stolen items in Gwagwalada Area Council.

Sources told Zagazola Makama that the arrest followed a complaint lodged by one Kabiru Ahmed of Kasuwan Dare, Gwagwalada, who reported that two men swapped his Moniepoint POS machine on Oct. 1, 2025, at about 2:55 p.m.

Detectives from the Gwagwalada Division swiftly acted on the report and apprehended one Abdul Abdullahi of Kano State, who confessed to being part of a syndicate notorious for POS swapping and robbery within the area.

The suspect named his accomplices as Yusuf Abdul, Mustapha Abba, Faruk, and Abu Chibola, and later led police operatives to their hideout in Angwan Dodo, Gwagwalada.

However, the other suspects escaped through the ceiling and roof of the building towards a nearby river upon sighting the operatives. One female suspect, Rahama Michael was arrested at the scene.

Items recovered include one fabricated locally-made pistol, six POS machines, seven ATM cards, 37 SIM cards, six wristwatches, and one axe.

The State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) has commenced a full investigation, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing members of the syndicate.

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