At the heart of one of Nigeria’s most sensational scandals was the largest cash haul ever found in a single location in the country—$43.3 million in mint-fresh $10,000 bills, along with hundreds of thousands in pounds sterling, discovered in a fireproof safe in Flat 7B at Osborne Towers, Lagos. The discovery immediately made headlines across the world, turning one of the city’s most exclusive addresses into a scene of intrigue and controversy.
Early reports claimed the money was linked to former President Goodluck Jonathan, supposedly set aside as “security” funds for his 2015 campaign. But questions soon emerged: if Jonathan remembered it, how could he claim it publicly, especially as his wife was already embroiled in legal battles over alleged criminal proceeds in other bank accounts?
Things took a political twist when former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike declared that the money belonged to his state government, claiming it was the proceeds of assets “fraudulently” sold by his predecessor, Rotimi Amaechi. On the other hand, the then-Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Ayodele Oke, stepped forward, insisting the funds were government-appropriated for secret projects during Jonathan’s administration—projects that received periodic approvals from the National Security Adviser (NSA) and, by extension, President Buhari.
Investigations later revealed that in 2015, Oke had requested $289 million for 12 high-level NIA projects aimed at upgrading intelligence-gathering facilities. The funds were released in cash from the Central Bank with minimal paper trail, given the sensitive nature of the projects. Progress reports impressed the NSA, who described the work as “breathtaking” and commended Oke’s foresight in dealing with 21st-century intelligence challenges.
Yet, less than a year later, the EFCC recovered the $43 million from Osborne Towers, and Oke was suspended and eventually dismissed following a sensitive panel review. While the case was initially set for criminal prosecution, the Lagos High Court last week struck it out on national security grounds, leaving lingering questions about inter-agency rivalries, political intrigue, and whether a crime had truly been committed.
For Ambassador Oke and his family, the ordeal has caused reputational damage and personal loss, even as the legal closure provides only “cold comfort.” The mystery of Osborne Towers remains a stark reminder of how Nigeria’s intelligence, politics, and money can collide, leaving more questions than answers.