Whistleblower reveals identity of person who kept $50m in Osborne Towers

One of the whistleblowers responsible for the discovery of $43 million, N23.2 million and £27,800 (N13billion) cash found in an apartment in Lagos last week has narrated how the cash was being deposited in the apartment.

The whistle blower who worked as a guard said a woman who spoke fluent Yoruba repeatedly brought huge bags of money to Apartment 7B. That particular property was known to guards as Apartment “Dash-Dash” because in the records there were two dashes where the name of the owner ought to be.

He recalled that on two occasions, he helped the woman, who was always curiously dressed in a haggardly way, to carry the money to “Dash-Dash”. The woman, on the first occasion, gave him N10,000 as a gift, and on the second, N500.

He said the woman would spend about two hours in the apartment, then go freshen up in the gym at the back of the building before leaving.

According to the whistleblower, who is in hiding for fear of his life, there are about 19 fully occupied apartments and 2 penthouses at the 16 Osborne Road, Ikoyi, property. Estate valuers estimate each of the apartment with four bedrooms and state of the art facilities to cost about N250 million.

These are the people who own apartment in the building:

1. Peter Obi - ex-Anambra state governor (He reportedly owns one flat on the first floor) 


2. Esther Ogbue - Retired Managing director of the NNPC (owns a flat on the second floor of the building.) 

Madam Esther was sacked alongside three top MDs at the NNPC over the ‘missing’ petrol scandal involving Capital Oil & Gas Nigeria Limited owned by businessman, Ifeanyi Ubah. Recall that it was reported that there was so much money in Esther’s house that her cook, Gabel Segbedji, a national of Benin Republic absconded with cash, jewelry worth $6million and a Toyota Camry car, which also belonged to her. 

3. Mo Abudu - Media mogul and CEO EbonyLife TV (She reportedly owns a flat on the 4th floor) 

She is popularly referred to as Africa’s very own Oprah Winfrey. Lere Olayinka, spokesperson of Ayo Fayose Ekiti state governor, had alleged that one of the flats in the property situated on Osborne road, Ikoyi, belongs to Abudu. Mo Abudu in a quick reply through her lawyers said she did not receive any apartment as a gift from Hon. Rotimi Amaechi or any other person. Rather, the apartment was purchased by a client in the open market for fair value. 

4. Patricia Anenih-Osagie - Daughter of ex-PDP BoT chairman, Chief Anthony Anenih (She reportedly lives in Apartment 7A and owns 7B)

A daughter of the former Chairman Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustee, Chief Tony Anenih, Mrs Patricia Edo-Osagie has been allegedly revealed as the owner of the flat where the EFCC recovered the money from. Further investigations show that both Apartment 7A and 7B were initially owned by former Ms. Anenih and her husband Edo-Osagie, who used a company known as Bishop Hills Enterprises Ltd to buy them from the former PDP chairman. It is unclear at what point they parted with 7B.