The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has denied claims by the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), that the apex bank approved and released the massive stash of cash recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from an apartment in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The security agency had claimed that it received the funds directly from the CBN.
Recall, that operatives of the EFCC, acting on a tip-off, had on Wednesday last week, said they found $43,449,947, £27,800, and N23,218,000, hidden inside an apartment, at Osborne Towers, Ikoyi.
The funds were valued at N13 billion, based on the prevailing exchange rate set by the CBN.
However, when contacted, the CBN said it was not sure that the recovered billions, in mint fresh notes, were moved directly from the bank to the NIA.
Nevertheless, when contacted to clarify its role in the disbursement of the funds, the CBN Spokesperson, Isaac Okorafor, said: “It is true the Central Bank of Nigeria issues mint fresh notes, but it is only to banks.
“After that (issuance to banks), the CBN does not know which of their customers they (the banks) give those notes to, and for what purpose.
“I cannot say if the notes the NIA is claiming came from the CBN. So, I will not be able to answer questions on it for now, except I receive a specific request.”
Spy Nigeria
