NewStats: 3,263,625 , 8,180,828 topics. Date: Friday, 06 June 2025 at 10:22 PM s3t67

In the letter dated December 22, 2023, Obazee requested funds for surveillance, vetting, security, addressing black spots, monitoring hotels, and acquiring vehicles.

A letter addressed to the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Yemi Cardoso, by the Chairman of the Special Investigative Committee, Jim Obazee, requesting N2 billion for various assignments has been exclusively obtained by SaharaReporters.

In the letter dated December 22, 2023, Obazee requested funds for surveillance, vetting, security, addressing black spots, monitoring hotels, and acquiring vehicles.

President Bola Tinubu appointed Obazee, a former chief executive officer of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, in July 2023 as the special investigator to investigate the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and related entities.

Obazee, who was fired by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2017, investigated the CBN under the tenure of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

His investigation uncovered massive corruption in Nigeria's apex bank and his recommendation led to former President Goodluck Jonathan's suspension of Sanusi in February 2014.

Obazee reports directly to the President.

In his appointment letter dated July 28, 2023, President Tinubu said Obazee would also work on a comprehensive report on public wealth currently in the hands of corrupt individuals and establishments.

Part of his job schedule is to strengthen key Government Business Entities (GBEs), block leakages in CBN and related GBEs and provide a comprehensive report on public wealth currently in the hands of corrupt individuals and establishments.

Meanwhile, Obazee’s letter to the CBN governor, Olayemi Cardoso, reads in part: ''Please refer to our meeting with Mr President (with the Attorney General of the Federation and Honourable Minister of Justice in attendance) on 20th December 2023 wherein Mr President directed that I forward my invoice, so far, to you on the ongoing investigation that I am leading.''

Obazee asked for N750,000,000 for ''information sourcing, facts finding, synthesis and vetting.''

The Special Investigator asked for N800,000,000 for ''surveillance, black sites, private security and prying eyes.''

For ''logistics, outstation and team funding,'' Obazee demanded N550,000,000
He also demanded N35,000,000 for ''consumables, etc''. The total amount of money requested by the Special Investigator was N2,135,000,000, which was to be paid into a Trust number – 0010080287.

Concerned CBN officials shared a copy of the letter with SaharaReporters and questioned the rationale behind the request when the apex bank had already provided for such activities.

One official said, ''The duplication of efforts raises concerns about potential redundancy and misallocation of resources.''

He added, ''Moreover, there is uncertainty regarding Jim Obazee's authority to conduct surveillance and investigations, particularly if he needs the credentials of a spy or professional investigator.

''The lack of clarity on the approval process for these tasks and fund allocation is already causing confusion, raising questions about who authorized these activities and why.

''Transparency is urgently needed regarding the transactions being vetted and the beneficiaries being monitored.

''Without clear explanations, suspicions will arise about the potential misuse of information and the possibility of the Obazee-led committee employing blackmail tactics.''

Another official accused the Obazee-led committee of being indicted for tapping the telephone conversations of highly placed Nigerians. Hence, the source noted that the apex bank is careful in dealing with the .

''The unauthorized tapping of telephone conversations of high-ranking officials, including the Attorney General of the Federation and the Inspector General of Police is known to us, and it raises serious legal and ethical questions about privacy rights and abuse of power.

''We are also aware that some CBN staff are providing information to Obazee on every transaction of current governments and governors that he is using as a blackmailing tool.

''We want the committee to explain the rationale behind the request and clarify the processes involved in approving such allocations.

''Additionally, the CBN is keen to ensure that any fund disbursements are under presidential orders and have received proper board approval.

''It is also essential to ensure that the allocated amount is within the approved budget and that funds are used appropriately and ably.''

SaharaReporters further gathered that there are concerns about the storage of investigation documents in Obazee's Lagos home.

A member of the said, ''As I speak to you, there is vital national information and top secrets in Obazee's home.

''This could trigger potential breaches of national security and confidentiality.''

https://saharareporters.com/2024/03/19/exclusive-tinubus-special-investigator-jim-obazee-requests-over-n2billion-central-bank

Who is after Obazee and why are they always using the rogue Sahara Reporters?

I fink Sowo is a hustler

Obazee is a criminal.
This same man was indicted during the regime of Buhari.
Years down the line,his investigation period would be found to be another avenue for him to loot the treasury.

Everybody is there just to steal,lie and kill

Billions upon billions everyday, make nobody open mouth complain, same complaining since 1960?, oh we aren't ready yet. We know what to do to show we are ready.

Na only you Waka come. Maybe he is from the same town as Emefi-Ole

In nigeria the investigator becomes the thief
Recovered stolen funds are re-stolen
Budgets are padded by nearly 50%

COMRADES, I think if the said amount can bring corruption to the lowest form I don't have problem about that

Unfortunately, reverse will be the caes under the watch of this president

what else do you expect..🤔

Have you forgotten the saying: it takes a thief to catch a thief..

Reminds me of that Falz song: this is Nigeria, everybodi be criminál🎶🎵

Corruption fighting back.

They should have set him.up the way Otedola set the other idiot up if true

Everybody wan cash out

"To oppose corruption in government is the highest obligation of patriotism." ~ G. Edward Griffin. The rot is systemic and everyone knows that the yam eaters would never go down easily without a fight

Everyone is is a hardened criminal in a government of crooked criminals.

Nigeria Nigeria!

Big story

seborrhic:
Obazee is a criminal.
This same man was indicted during the regime of Buhari.
Years down the line,his investigation period would be found to be another avenue for him to loot the treasury.

Buhari’s men plays a fast one on him so that they can continue their looting. That was why he was sacked for the benefit of those thieves. By the way did you not come to this life to make money with your intellect? So after spoiling the system and inviting him to investigate,… every laborer deserves pay

Best brain

This one government information is leaking anyhow , they will soon leak the president’s oza room schedule

Na wa

Delta and rivers part are iggbos, give Iigbo a chance, we gave them a platform cbn and they turn it upside down, abeg when we give them presidency that means them go sell all of us

No be una send am work? Didn’t he deliver “Meffy” to you guys to hang while his Oga is enjoying his retirement after bringing everything to its knees?

It’s over inflated, yes we know but pay am. He delivered well.

Tinubu is the most corrupt human being alive


Don't blame his cronies

Inukwa ooooo

ZombieTAMER:
Tinubu is the most corrupt human being alive


Don't blame his cronies

And obi nwanne is saint?

2B is just a way too much for the assignment.
The fact is that this task would not do much. Nigeria problem is not money problem.

chopnaira:
Na only you Waka come. Maybe he is from the same town as Emefi-Ole

Or maybe they're setting him up to discredit his work.

Hmmm
Govt of it will favour me and my family political bandits

2bn for a six months job while Zombies are being fed with ounje Eko

saharareporters are bastards for leaking this information.

The man is trying to expose CBN officials that are involved in corruption and they are working against him by leaking this data.

Nigerians are their worst enemy. they work against you even though the work is meant to help them

People should go and how much his counterpart in the US will collect for a special detailed investigation like this. Roughly $1.3m which I still consider reasonable.
My only concern is how classified govt letters and documents especially in the civil service get leaked into public easily. There should be a special penalty for this. Someone needs to be made a scapegoat.

MrProlific95:
Who is after Obazee and why are they always using the rogue Sahara Reporters?

I fink Sowo is a hustler

did he or did he not ask for N2b?

funshint:
People should go and how much his counterpart in the US will collect for a special detailed investigation like this. Roughly $1.3m which I still consider reasonable.
My only concern is how classified govt letters and documents especially in the civil service get leaked into public easily. There should be a special penalty for this. Someone needs to be made a scapegoat.

can you give us a breakdown of the N2b and the $1.3b?