Activist and Whistleblower, Mahdi Shehu gives ‘inside details’ of NIA DG’s resignation

Activist and whistleblower Mahdi Shehu has revealed why Ahmed Rufai, the Director-General (DG) of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) resigned on Saturday.

According to Mahdi, Ahmed Rufai, who held the position since April 2017, was a key figure among former President Buhari’s appointees, known for his influence.

Mahdi claimed that Rufai’s resignation traces back to 2017, when a sting operation was orchestrated by certain northern power brokers, involving the then EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu.

According to him, the operation targeted the NIA’s Lagos office, resulting in the controversial removal of large sums of money—$43 million and £34 million.

Mahdi alleged that part of the operation’s intent was to create a vacancy at the NIA, ultimately leading to Ahmed Rufai’s appointment as DG, despite an ongoing court case by Ambassador Eke Ayodele, the former DG of NIA.

Mahdi noted that Ayodele was eventually cleared of any wrongdoing in 2023 and was ordered by the court to be reinstated.

He suggested that political considerations, particularly the upcoming 2023 presidential elections, influenced the decision to retain Ahmed Rufai in his position temporarily. He also hinted at promises made by President Tinubu to reinstate Ayodele after 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.”