Ayo Oke
{{Short description|Former director general of Nigeria's National Intelligence Agency}}
{{For|the soccer player|Ayo Oke (soccer)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
Ayo Oke is the former director general of Nigeria's National Intelligence Agency (NIA), appointed by then president Goodluck Jonathan on 7 November 2013.{{cite web|url=http://saharareporters.com/2013/11/07/ayo-oke-appointed-dg-national-intelligence-agency |title=Ayo Oke Appointed DG Of National Intelligence Agency |publisher=Sahara Reporters |date=7 November 2013 |accessdate=20 April 2017}}
Early life and career
Ayo Oke was born in Oyo state.{{cite web|author=Clement Ejiofor |url=https://www.naij.com/51654.html |title=Jonathan appoints Amb. Ayo Oke as the new chief of National Intelligence Agency. ▷ |location=NG |publisher=Naij.com |date=7 November 2013 |accessdate=20 April 2017}} Oke was previously the Director (Regions) at the headquarters of the NIA, and before that Nigeria's ambassador to the Commonwealth Secretariat in London. He succeeded Ezekiel Olaniyi Oladeji as director general of Nigeria's National Intelligence Agency in November 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.theparadigmng.com/2013/11/07/president-jonathan-appoints-amb-ayo-oke/ |title=President Jonathan Appoints Amb. Ayo Oke As The New DG Of National Intelligence Agency - The Paradigm |publisher=Theparadigmng.com |date=7 November 2013 |accessdate=20 April 2017}}
NIA fund controversy
In April 2017, Oke was suspended by president Muhammadu Buhari after anti-corruption officers from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission found more than US$43 million (£34m) in an apartment at Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-39646256 |title=Nigeria's Buhari suspends spy chief after $43m found in Lagos - BBC News |work=BBC News |date= 19 April 2017|accessdate=20 April 2017}}{{cite news|last=Owen |first=John |url=http://dailypost.ng/2017/04/19/nigerians-react-suspension-babachir-lawal-ayo-oke/ |title=Nigerians react to suspension of Babachir Lawal, Ayo Oke - Daily Post Nigeria |newspaper=Daily Post Nigeria |publisher=Dailypost.ng |date= 19 April 2017|accessdate=20 April 2017}} On 30 October, Oke was finally dismissed by the Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari after consideration of the report of the investigative committee headed by the Vice President.{{Cite web|url=http://sunnewsonline.com/breaking-buhari-sacks-babachir-lawal-ayo-oke-appoints-mustapha-new-sgf/|title=BREAKING: Buhari sacks Babachir Lawal, Ayo Oke, appoints Mustapha new SGF|date=30 October 2017}}
In June 2023, Premium Times citing unnamed “inside sources” reported that the NIA DG Ahmed Abubakar and the chairman of the EFCC Abdul Rasheed Bawa met and resolved to terminate the legal proceeding against Oke in the “interest of national security”.{{Cite web |title=Court terminates six-year legal wrangle against Nigeria’s former Chief Spymaster |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/605373-court-terminates-six-year-legal-wrangle-against-nigerias-former-chief-spymaster.html?tztc=1 |access-date=2024-06-22 |website=Premium Times}} The resolution was then presented to President Muhammadu Buhari who approved it and ordered the termination of the case before the expiration of his tenure. On 9 June 2023, the case was struck out by Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos following prosecutor’s (EFCC) motion to withdraw the case.{{Cite web |last=THEWILL |first=Aina Ojonugwa |date=2023-06-18 |title=Exclusive: Former NIA DG Oke Returns As EFCC Resolves Case Surrounding Cash Found In Ikoyi Luxury Flat |url=https://thewillnews.com/exclusive-former-nia-dg-oke-returns-as-efcc-resolves-case-surrounding-cash-found-in-ikoyi-luxury-flat-2/ |access-date=2024-06-22 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=How Buhari, Judge Cleared Former NIA Boss, Oke, of Corruption Charges – THISDAYLIVE |url=https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2023/06/19/how-buhari-judge-cleared-former-nia-boss-oke-of-corruption-charges/ |access-date=2024-06-22 |website=www.thisdaylive.com}}