Controversy Reignites Over 2017 Ikoyi Cash Scandal as Former NIA Chief Reportedly Returns to Public Spotlight

Fresh controversy has erupted on social media and public discourse following renewed attention on the 2017 Ikoyi apartment cash discovery, a case that many Nigerians say remains unresolved nearly a decade later.

In April 2017, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) raided a luxury apartment in Ikoyi, Lagos, where they reportedly discovered a staggering haul of cash. The items recovered included about $43 million, £28,000, and ₦23 million, all allegedly found in cash inside the apartment.

The apartment was later linked to Chief Ayodele Oke, who at the time was the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and a former Nigerian ambassador to the Commonwealth. The discovery immediately sparked national outrage and raised serious questions about the handling of public funds and intelligence finances.

By February 7, 2019—almost two years after the raid—the Federal High Court in Lagos issued a warrant for the arrest of Chief Oke and his wife, Folasade Oke, following an application by the EFCC. The anti-graft agency accused the couple of theft and money laundering, citing the funds recovered from the Ikoyi apartment.

According to EFCC filings, the charges included not only the $43 million, £28,000, and ₦23 million cash discovery, but also a separate allegation involving the diversion of about $160 million said to belong to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

However, before appearing in court, the couple reportedly left the country, citing “medical treatment.” Their failure to respond to court summons led the EFCC to declare them wanted.

Following the scandal in 2017, Chief Oke was suspended as Director-General of the NIA. A presidential committee headed by then Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo investigated the incident and subsequently recommended his removal to former President Muhammadu Buhari, a recommendation that was acted upon.

Despite the gravity of the allegations and the scale of the funds involved, questions persist years later. Many Nigerians continue to ask what happened to the recovered money, where it is currently held, and why the case appears to have faded from public accountability.

The controversy has resurfaced amid reports that Chief Ayodele Oke has quietly returned to Nigeria and was recently nominated as an ambassador, sparking sharp criticism from commentators who describe the development as troubling.

Critics argue that appointing a figure once accused of evading justice over unexplained millions undermines Nigeria’s anti-corruption stance and damages the country’s credibility on the international stage. Supporters of transparency insist that unresolved cases of this magnitude should be conclusively addressed before any return to public office.

As of now, there has been no official public clarification on the status of the funds recovered in 2017 or the final outcome of the EFCC case, leaving many Nigerians to describe the situation as yet another symbol of unresolved accountability in the country’s fight against corruption.