The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said it advised President Muhammadu Buhari to retire former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HOCSF) Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita to pave the way for her eventual prosecution.
Mrs. Oyo-Ita was in 2019 questioned and detained for sundry financial crimes while in office as HOSF.
It would be recalled that Oyo-Ita had opted to resign quietly in August 2019 shortly after been interrogated and detained by the EFCC over alleged engagement in contract scam and knowledge of how project cash of over N600 million was being kept away by her aide as well as other allegation of fraud across key agencies of government while she superintend as the HOCSF.
EFCC investigations has so far traced about N3 billion to her account through proxy companies and property well above her means.
An EFCC source who spoke to our correspondent, on the condition of anonymity said the retirement of Oyo-Ita from service will and her replacement by Dr. Yemi Esan will enable the anti-graft agency conclude investigation on the former civil service boss with a view to arraigning her in court.
The source said on Monday that contrary to claims by some individuals that the Commission has dropped the case against her, “EFCC is still investigating the case”.
“We are investigating a lot of people on this case including many ministries, department and agencies of government and we do not need to rush the investigation. You cannot rush the case but I can assure you that we are doing everything possible to bring the suspects to book,” the source stated further.
The source added that the Commission has pushed for her retirement from service so that she would not in any way interfere with the investigation of the case adding that “This is a high profile case and we need to do our thorough investigations so that we can properly prosecute the case in court. I can assure you that very soon, she will appear in court”.
“You know at the level of the HOCSF, they are like octopus, they are everywhere and if she is still in the office, she can frustrate the investigation so first we had to make sure she was suspended from office and now that we have been able to have her retired, this will enable us handle and conclude her case”.
The Bridge News
