14th December, 2017
Mr. Yakubu Galadima, the lawyer to the Ikoyi whistle-blower who assisted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to recover $43m, N23.2m and £27,800 (N13bn) from an apartment on April 12, 2017, has confirmed that his client has flown out of the country after collecting part of his N421 million commission from the Federal Government.
Galadima said the whistle-blower flew out of the country less than 24 hours after receiving part of the N421m reward, reports The Punch.
The lawyer thanked the government for fulfilling its part of the agreement after eight months.
Galadima also joked that his client did not run mad after receiving the money as predicted by some government officials.
He said his client had not been paid in full, adding that the Federal Government had promised to pay him the balance next year.
“My client confirmed to me that he had received a credit alert from the Federal Government. He travelled out of the country this morning (Wednesday morning).
“He has been paid the first instalment but there were many tax deductions. Yes, we are happy. I will give you more details later but I can confirm now that he has received some money.
“As you can see, my client did not run mad as predicted by Prof. Itse Sagay,” Galadima told The Punch
Galadima said the Federal Government’s decision to pay his client was an evidence that his client was the real whistle-blower out of the others that had been laying claim to the money.