Ikoyigate: Why EFCC, FG May Not Pay Whistle Blower

The delay in the payment of the agreed 5% to the whistle blower(s) that exposed the cash recovered from Osborne Towers may not end soon. Note that the EFCC have already stated that it is not their responsibility to pay such reward, stressing that the Ministry of Finance has the duty to do so. But here are the reason why they may not pay the reward.

1. The EFCC have recently, in a criminal manner added names to the original list of whistle blowers in a bid to create confusion and buy time. I just read today that a law firm has petitioned the Attorney General claiming that their clients were omitted from the list. This is a gimmick to delay or frustrate payment.

2. The claim by Sagay (SAN) that the whistle blower will go mad if given the money is false. He further claimed that they are counselling him on how to use the money. How old is he? Does he not have family or referees, or confidante? Why not release the money in tranche then? The plan is to project him as insane to withhold payment.

3. That money has since been returned to NIA. You don't forfeit government money to government. It was budgeted for. The Osinbajo committee after meeting with Oke and former DGs of NIA recommended that the funds be returned to the Agency. The EFCC is now in a fix as to where it would bring millions of naira to pay whistle blowers.

4. Sadly, the particulars of the whistle blower is now in the open thanks to police officers in the EFCC. Now people are calling the guy and requesting that he include their names in the list. people even confront him at airports requesting their inclusion.

Let us pray the guy is not assassinated. We must collectively fight for his right in order not to allow injustice prevail.

Magu has drummed support for the whistle blower policy and even lied that he has been payed. He should be made to do the needful. When a false whistle was blown, they didn't waste time to arrest them. Why are they wasting time to pay this one now?