Activist and whistleblower Mahdi Shehu has disclosed the reasons behind Ahmed Rufai’s resignation as Director-General (DG) of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) on Saturday.
Shehu explained that Rufai, who had held the position since April 2017, was a significant figure among former President Buhari’s appointees, recognized for his influence.
He claimed that Rufai’s resignation was linked to events from 2017 when certain northern power brokers orchestrated a sting operation involving then EFCC Chairman Ibrahim Magu. This operation targeted the NIA’s Lagos office and led to the controversial removal of large sums of money- $43 million and £34 million.
According to Shehu, part of the operation aimed to create a vacancy at the NIA, which ultimately resulted in Ahmed Rufai’s appointment as DG, despite an ongoing court case involving former NIA DG Ambassador Eke Ayodele.
Shehu noted that Ayodele was cleared of any wrongdoing in 2023 and was ordered by the court to be reinstated.
He suggested that political factors, particularly the upcoming 2023 presidential elections, played a role in the decision to keep Ahmed Rufai in his position temporarily. Additionally, he hinted at promises made by President Tinubu to reinstate Ayodele following the elections.
He wrote on X: ”In April 2017, in a deliberately designed sting operation to create a vacuum by force and subterfuge at the NIA, initiated by Sabiu tunde and two other northern cabals, Magu, the then Efcc Chairman using an insider informant from NIA operations unit, was drafted to invade the lagos operational office of the NIA, which he forcefully broke into and removed $43m and £34m.
”$10m was allegedly reported to have been “stolen” out of the “recovery” when it was taken for custody at the CBN by an NIA accounts staff who was silently transferred out. Don’t ask me if the $10m was returned.
”Even before the report of the presidential investigation was submitted and in spite of the existing court case instituted by Ayodele Eke, Buhari was misled into appointing Ahmed Rufai as the New DG NIA.
”As a reward, Tunde Sabiu, who was never a member of the intelligence community, was rewarded with the post of Assistant Director at the NIA while still holding the post of PA to C in C and posted to the villa. To date, he is a staff of the NIA just to give him a soft landing.
”Eke Ayodele, who was suspended in April 2017 by Buhari, pending the outcome of the investigation, went to court to contest his indictment arising from Magu’s raid.
”In 2023, the court cleared Ambassador Eke Ayodele from any wrongdoing and ordered that he be reinstated back to his seat as DG NIA being a statutory tenure appointment with constitutional favour.
”The court order came before the elections, and removing Rufai and reinstating Ayodele may be a spoiler for the APC in the North, particularly aware of the role expected to “be played” by Ahmed Rufai in the 2023 presidential election.
”Even after “declared” winner, Tinubu ” retained” Ahmed Rufai in ” appreciation” to his role but behind the scenes assuring Eke Ayodele of his plans to implement the court order that restored him to his seat.”
