Oyo-Ita weighs options, seeks soft landing – TheNigerialawyer

* EFCC grills two Permanent Secretaries over scandal
•Releases suspect with N600m in account on bail

TWO Federal Permanent Secretaries and three Directors of Finance
have joined the list of those questioned by the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in connection with the ongoing
probe of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs.
Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita over an alleged N3billion contract
scam.

Another suspect in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service
of the Federation (OHCSF) who was detained after freezing the
N600million in his account, has been released, The Nation learnt
yesterday.

The released suspect is said to be a Project Accountant in the
OHCSF.

Oyo-Ita herself is weighing options opened to her as she
anxiously awaits the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari on her
fate.

She does not want to be dismissed from office by the president,
sources said.

The Nation also gathered that some highly-placed Nigerians may
have been trying to intercede on her behalf with the President.

The options being considered by Oyo-Ita include a soft-landing
by getting the authorities to hear her own side of the story;
retirement or resignation; and a waiver from prosecution after
returning funds allegedly traced to companies linked to her.

Her camp was in a dilemma yesterday on whether she should attend
the presidential retreat for ministers-designate tomorrow.

She has been receiving treatment in an Abuja hospital in the
last one week.

Investigation by The Nation revealed that the quizzed Permanent
Secretaries and Directors of Finance confirmed the award of the
contracts to the firms associated with Oyo-Ita.

It was learnt that they made payment vouchers and other relevant
documents available to the EFCC investigating team.

A top source said: “our detectives have interrogated two
Permanent Secretaries and three Directors of Finance of some of the
ministries where contracts linked with the Head of Service were
awarded.

“The investigating team has made progress because these officers
are ready to testify against Oyo-Ita. They kept records and made
all relevant documents available.

“We will soon release the details of our findings to the public
to prove that our operatives had a good trail of these contracts
and some money.

“We are expecting Oyo-Ita to recover as fast as possible in
order to be able to report for interrogation on more issues we have
raised for her. Some clues have led to the uncovering of more
links.”

Responding to a question, the source said the “suspect in whose
account we found N600million has been released on bail but his
movement restricted pending the conclusion of investigation.

“All the invited Permanent Secretaries and Directors of Finance
were also placed on administrative bail.”

A reliable source in the presidency confirmed that “she has been
contacting highly-placed Nigerians to intercede on her behalf but
we do not know what she wants from the President.

“Only the President can determine her fate in the light of the
report of the preliminary investigation of the EFCC.

“I think when the President returns, he will look at the issues
dispassionately and take a decision in the interest of the
public.

“If you have observed the President since 2015, he does not rush
to judgment on any case unlike during his tenure as a Military Head
of State.

“The only constant thing about President Buhari is that he will
not condone corruption no matter how big you are.”

A source close to her said: “Certainly, she wants to be allowed
the benefit of the doubt. She prefers a soft landing to being
hurled before a court.

“Many people are out to prevail on the President to negotiate
her exit. The soft-landing options being considered by Oyo-Ita and
her strategy team border on getting to hear her side, either
retirement or resignation and a waiver from prosecution after
returning funds allegedly traced to her or companies linked with
her.”