SGF Babachir Lawal appears before Senate committee

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, appeared before the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs on Monday, days after he failed to honour the committee’s initial invitation to defend his office’s proposed budget for 2017.

The initial schedule for Mr. Lawal to defend his office’s proposed budget of N9.88 billion was last Thursday.

He was represented by the permanent secretary (general services), Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mohammaed Bukar, whose appearance was rejected by the committee which insisted that Mr. Lawal must appear in person.

On Monday when he eventually appeared, Mr. Lawal said his initial absence was a result of the death of the wife of the Sports Minister. But his absence fueled suspicions that he took the decision as a result of his ongoing row with the Senate.

The Senate had last year asked President Muhammadu Buhari to relieve Mr. Lawal of his position and get him prosecuted after the legislature accused him of breaching the country’s law and code of conduct for public officers in handling of a “grass cutting” contract awarded by the Presidential Initiative for the North East, PINE, under his office.

Mr. Babachir later dismissed the Senate as saying “balderdash” and accused the lawmakers of desperation to “pull him down”.

In January, the president replied the Senate, saying Mr. Lawal was not given fair hearing and that the report of the Senate committee that indicted Mr. Lawal was a minority report as it was allegedly signed by three of nine members of the committee led by Shehu Sani.

But, Mr. Sani lambasted the president and his anti-corruption campaign.

Then, the Senate vowed to release a full report and that it would prove the culpability of Mr. Lawal when it resumed later this month.

During his appearance before the Tijani Kaura-led committee on Monday, Mr. Lawal said that out of the N9.9 billion proposed for his office, N3.4 billion was proposed for personnel costs, while N3.8billion was proposed for overhead, representing a N2 billion increase from the 2016 provision.

He said the amount proposed for overhead was meant for activities and programmes of other offices headed by various permanent secretaries in his office, as well as funding of activities and programmes of political office holders such as the special advisers and senior special assistants to the president.

He added that N2.7 billion would go to capital projects.

He however decried the provision for his office as inadequate.

Following questions from the Senators, Mr. Lawal assured that funds to care of former leaders had been “sufficiently” budgeted.

Babachir Lawal Should Have Resigned – Professor Odekunle

A member of the Presidential Committee Against Corruption, Professor Femi Odekunle, says the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Babachir Lawal, should have resigned.

Professor Odekunle, who spoke on Sunday Politics, believed that Mr Lawal should have stepped aside, following the Senate panel report on the allegations of the grass-cutting contract scandal.

“In a reasonable country, the President (Muhammadu Buhari) should have asked Babachir Lawal to step aside or Babachir Lawal himself should have either resigned or step aside.

“It is a dent (as far as I’m concerned) on our anti-corruption fight; on the struggle of the Presidential Advisory Committee to actually do what is good (and) to forge ahead with this anti-corruption position,” he said.

The criminologist hailed the President’s anti-corruption war, saying it is on track and alive.

He, however, faulted the manner in which the allegation against the Secretary to the Government of the Federation was handled.

“The Presidency does not seem to put the right foot forward on this matter of the SGF (because) the least that should have been done was to have asked the man to step aside pending investigation,” he maintained.

 

Source: Channels TV

Buhari’s Letter On Babachir Has Raised More Questions Than Answers – Ismael Ahmed

A member of the All Progressives Congress’ Board of Trustees, Ismael Ahmed, said President Muhammadu Buhari’s latest letters to the Senate have whipped up more questions than answers.

 

The letters were for the confirmation of Mr Ibrahim Magu, as the substantive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and another written in response to a request that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Lawal Babachir.

 

Mr Ahmed was particular about the letter focusing on the SGF, which critics said was a defense for the SGF by the President, but on the renomination of Mr Magu, he said: “The president is within his right to renominate the rejected acting chairman of the EFCC, Mr Magu.

 

“Some of the concerns that were raised as impediments for not going ahead with the confirmation by the Senate initially, have been taken care of and it is left for the Senate to begin the legislative process, get to the confirmation hearing and determine whether the EFCC acting chairman is fit to be confirmed or not”.

 

On the issue of the SGF, he pointed out that “the issue of corruption is a very sensitive issue to Nigerians and incredibly so for this government because it is an anchor upon which we were elected into office.

 

“The President, I think in his own wisdom, thought it was necessary to write back a response on the reasons he could not carry out some of the things that they (the Senators) decided that he should. He felt that that was necessary, but as a politician, I will tell you that I do not think that the Senate were expecting a response from the President.

 

“I thought the letter would have raised more questions than answers, from the side that the president was trying hard to protect some of his appointees.

 

“I wouldn’t have written the letter,” he emphasised.

 

The member of Board of Trustees of the APC, however, pointed out that the letter was not a defense for the SGF, but written to give the Senate a leeway to continue with its investigation.

There are allegations that border on conflict of interest against Mr Lawal Babachir

 

A lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, who doubted that the letter was from Mr Buhari, had described the letter as a funeral for the anti-corruption crusade of the President.

 

Critics have also said that the letter did not show the moral standard of the current government that had in the pinnacle of its campaign manifesto, a glaring desire to fight corruption.

 

Conflict Of Interest

 

Mr Ahmed, however, said that it was too early to judge that the apc-led administration had lowered the moral standard of fighting corruption, but insisted that writing such a letter comes with such a political implication.

 

“The moral standard is high for the administration to deal with anyone involved in corrupt practices.

 

“I am sure that if we were in the stock market, our shares would have fallen since that letter was written,” he said.

 

The APC member insisted that the Mr Babachir’s being in office will not affect investigations into allegations that he awarded contracts to a company that he had a stake in.

 

Highlighting the All Progressives Congress’ commitment to fighting corruption, he emphasised that awarding a contract to a company he had a stake in was inimical to the office he occupies and tantamount to conflict of interest.

 

He also insisted that if investigations showed the SGF was culpable, he should be sacked and prosecuted.

 

Source: Channels TV

Uproar in Senate over Buhari’s support for Babachir, Magu.

There was uproar at the Senate yesterday over President Muhammadu Buhari’s continued support for the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), David Babachir and the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu.

In two separate letters read by Senate President Bukola Saraki, President Buhari pointed out perceived flaws in the resolutions of the upper legislative chamber last December against Babachir and Magu.

Among the complaints is that the Senate committee breached the rule of fair hearing by refusing to invite Babachir to any of its sections. The presidency also alleged that the report on which the lawmakers based their decision was interim not the final report.

The uneasy calm in the chamber as Saraki read the letter suddenly broke into uproar when he attempted to cut short a remark by the chairman of the ad hoc committee that investigated and indicted the SGF, Shehu Sani (APC, Kaduna Central). The lawmakers resorted to chanting “Go ahead! Go ahead!! Go ahead!!!” to encourage Sani to continue his remark despite Saraki’s interjection.

When calm returned, Sani described the president’s letter against the Senate’s resolution on Babachir as “a funeral service of the anti-corruption war”.

According to him, the anti-graft campaign is so selective to the extent that when it has to do with the National Assembly, the judiciary and other segments of the society, the president uses insecticides but when it concerns anybody in the executive arm of government, he uses deodorants.

The lawmaker and civil rights activist said: “It is unfortunate that we have a political atmosphere where you have a saintly and angelic presidency and a devilish and evil society. We must in every respect fight corruption within the kitchen as we do in the veranda; if we don’t do that, then we are being hypocritical. This letter does not in any way reflect the spirit which we espouse as a people fighting to cleanse and fumigate this country of corruption.

“It is shocking to me that such a letter can come from the presidency with such misinformation and outright distortions. They lied by saying that the committee didn’t invite the SGF; the committee invited the SGF and the letter was acknowledged by the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the SGF, Mr. Aminu Nadehu

“To make sure that we buttress our point, we made a paid advert in three or four national dailies: this one was published on December 2, 2016 and the SGF is clearly mentioned as one of those expected to come and appear before the National Assembly.
“If they have the intention of simply reaching a pre-determined conclusion by covering up on the issues raised by the committee, that is one thing.”

On the president’s allegation that the report that indicted Babachir was signed by only three of the nine members of the committee, Sani said:

“That was also a second lie coming from the presidency. I have a copy of the interim report which was initially signed by seven of the nine members of that committee and I am going to submit it to the Clerk of the Senate. Even if it is nine and then three people signed, we still have a quorum, but here I have seven people.

“I will say also that I listened to the list of the names that were read and they omitted the chairman which is myself. I know I am not very big in frame but I believe my name shouldn’t have been omitted.”

Condemning the president’s response further, Sani said: “This shows clearly how the SGF and his minions in the presidency misinformed the president to sign this letter. Secondly, I will say this clearly, this letter is a funeral service for the anti-corruption fight.

“ Mr. President, I stand by the report of that committee and it is very clear to us: if we can allow this committee’s report to be shredded into pieces, then I think it would be in order for us to open all the 138 prisons in this country for all the convicts and awaiting trial inmates to go scot-free.”

At an earlier closed-door session that lasted for two hours, the senators took their turns to condemn Buhari’s response to the resolutions against Babachir and Magu.

It was learnt that the lawmakers particularly condemned why Buhari refused to address the issues raised in the DSS security report on Magu. “Is it that the report never existed or that it has been withdrawn?” a senator queried.

The lawmakers faulted the manner in which the Buhari’s letter was delivered in sharp contrast with the normal tradition of message delivery to the Senate.

“The letter was dated 17th of January but it was sent to the Senate president at 10:00 p.m. of 22 January. It was delivered to Saraki by hand and not through the normal message delivery channel to the Senate. Why the gap? Could it have been written by someone else and backdated?” another senator wondered.

It was pointed out at the closed-door session that the Senate would be breaching its rule if it went ahead to screen Magu.“The Senate rule forbids it from considering any matter upon which a judicial decision is pending. Why can’t we wait until the matter is decided upon by the court?” a lawmaker said.

The Senate said it would stand by its resolutions.Briefing journalists shortly after the session yesterday, Chairman of the Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Abdullahi Saabi Aliu, said the Senate had taken note of the fact that the president did not address the issues raised in the security report upon which the chamber refused to consider the nomination of Magu.

A Federal High Court in Lagos had fixed February 13 to hear a suit filed against Magu, challenging his continued stay in office as EFCC acting chairman.

SGF’s clearance will send the wrong message to Trump – By Ebuka Nwankwo

The kind of clearance the secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, received from the presidency will not only cast immense doubts on the sincerity of  Buhari’s fight against corruption, it is likely to define the image of this government, especially with the new administration in the U.S.

It is not a question about the SGF’s innocence or culpability, but about how he was ‘’cleared’’ of other related allegations without convincing explanations.

And since the funds that were investigated by the senate have a lot to do with the rehabilitation of displaced citizens, who are suffering from the hardship created by Boko Haram, major international donors would certainly be watching, attentively.

This will certainly shape their opinion on Buhari’s presidency, especially the new government in America which is trying to understand how U.S taxpayers’ money is spent abroad.

For instance, Trump’s transition team recently asked the State Department why the US was bothering to fight Boko Haram and why the Chibok girls have not been found, according to a New York Times report.

Part of the tone of the four-page letter was this: “With so much corruption in Africa, how much of our funding is stolen? Why should we spend these funds on Africa when we are suffering here in the U.S.?”

Here’s is one point foreign governments might underline: The President’s letter to the senate exonerating the SGF from allegations of corruption did not attempt to explain the reasons for the transfer of over N200 million naira to Rholavision, the SGF’s ‘former firm’.

TheCable newspaper had exclusively obtained Rholavision’s bank statements, with evidence of transfers from Josmon Technologies—a company which was awarded a grass clearing contract by the SGF’s office.

Even though the SGF claimed that he had written to his lawyers relinquishing his shares in Rholavision in August 2015, before the transfers from Josmon Technologies, there are evidence in the public domain that the letter written to CAC – the body which should have been the first to be put on notice – was in September, 2016, after about N200 million had been transferred.

Besides, the president’s letter would have tried to explain how Josmon Technologies obtained the N200 million it paid to the SGF’s former company. Such clarification could reinforce the SGF’s innocence.

Also, the questions about the missing funds allocated to the Presidential Initiative on the North-East, which is managed by the SGF’s office, has to be addressed convincingly. If this is done, the SGF’s innocence would be further established.

There are also issues of ‘due process’. Is it true, as it is reported, that the N248 million contract to Josmons required only N48 million to execute? The company seemed to have had extra N200 million to play around with.

Meanwhile, the president’ letter has provoked varied reactions, with Senator Sani challenging the president’s claim that the SGF was not given ample opportunities to clear his name. In fact, the senator, who is from the president’s party, re-echoed the mood of the populace: he questioned the genuineness of the current fight against corruption.

The manner with which the investigations on the SGF was conducted does not do this administration any good. It will not only reinforce the argument the opposition has been making concerning the current fight against corruption, it might also affect international funding to displaced people and the fight against Boko Haram.

America would not want humanitarian aids diverted. And if the president does not come up with clarifications on why he thinks the SGF is innocent, these aids might start dwindling.

President Buhari rejects senate’s recommendation for SGF’s sacking

President Muhammadu Buhari has rejected the recommendation of the senate for the sack of Babachir Lawal as secretary to the government of the federation (SGF).

 

Buhari said his decision was informed by the failure of the senate ad hoc committee on humanitarian crisis in the northeast to give Lawal a fair hearing.

?

He conveyed his decision in a letter read by Senate President Bukola Saraki on Tuesday.

 

In December 2016, the senate recommended the sack of Lawal for alleged corruption.

 

In its report, the senate ad hoc committee, which investigated the diversion of funds for internally displaced persons in the northeast, and was chaired by Shehu Sani, a senator from Kaduna central, accused Lawal of receiving a kickback of N200m through his company, Rholavision Limited, from a company he awarded a contract for the clearing of invasive plant species in Yobe state.?

?

But Buhari dismissed the document as a “minority report”, saying that “the senate committee comprised nine members” but only three persons signed it.?

 

“The review of the interim report showed that only three members signed the report. ?This makes it a minority report of a senate committee?,” he said.

 

He said Lawal was not given the opportunity to clear himself of the allegations, and that the company linked to him was not accorded the chance as well.?

 

“The current report does not meet the principle of fair hearing? required in cases of abuse of office by public officer,” he said.?

 

Reacting to the letter, Sani, chairman of the committee, described the current anti-corruption war of the president as a farce.?

 

“This letter is a funeral service of the president’s anti-corruption war,” he said.?

 

“When it comes to fighting corruption in the national assembly and the judiciary, the president uses insecticide, but when it comes to the presidency he uses deodorant?.”

 

He also explained that the SGF was invited personally and through the media?, but that he chose to ignore the invitation.

 

He added that seven of nine members of the committee signed the interim report, and that Buhari’s letter absolving L?awal of guilt was full of lies.

 

Source: The Cable

“I don’t believe Buhari wrote that letter”, Shehu Sani kicks back at Babachir’s exoneration.

President Buhari has cleared SGF Babachir Lawal of corruption allegations based on report from Attorney General of the Federation in a letter read by the Senate President Bukola Saraki during plenary on Tuesday.

 

In reply to the letter, Senator Shehu Sani from Kaduna furiously denies President Buhari’s allegations that SGF Lawal was not invited or given fair-hearing.

 

He seized the opportunity to take a swipe at the Presidency, saying; “President Buhari’s government uses insecticide to fight corruption in public but uses deodorant to fight corruption in the Presidency!”

 

He also claimed that 7 out of 9 senators signed his Committee’s interim report, not 3 as claimed by President Buhari’s letter. He concluded his objection by saying; “Buhari’s letter absolving SGF is full of falsehood”.

 

Furthermore, Shehu Sani told the senate plenary on Tuesday that he doesn’t believe President Buhari wrote the letter, says SGF “& his minions in Presidency” could have written letter to Senate.

 

Some weeks ago, An ad-hoc committee of the Senate on “mounting humanitarian crisis in the North East” led by Senator Shehu Sani submitted its interim report and indicted Mr. Lawal for allegedly receiving N233 million contract to clear invasive plant species in Yobe State through a company, Rholavision Nigeria Limited.

I was not removed, I finished my assignment – SGF Babachir Lawal

The Secretary to the Government of Federation (SGF) Babachir David Lawal has said that he was not removed as chairman of the presidential committee on the reconstitution of federal government boards.

 

President Muhammadu Buhari on 16 July 2015 dissolved the Governing Boards of many of the Federal Institutions and inaugurated an eight-man committee headed by Babachir on October 26 on the reconstitution of all the boards.

 

Other members of the committee are Alhaji Mai Mala Buni (North-East), Alhaji Zakari Idde (North-Central), Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir (North-West), Chief Hillard Etagbo Eta (South-South), Chief Pius Akinyelure (South-West), Chief Emmanuel Eneukwu (South-East) as members while Mr. Gideon Sammani is the Secretary.

 

Speaking through the Director, Press in the SGF office, Mr. Bolaji Adebiyi, Babachir said it is natural for the president to act on the report of the committee which he chaired and that it is impracticable for him to still be the one to implement the recommendations of the committee if the president did not asked him to do so.  He said the SGF committee successfully completed its assignment and duly submitted its report appropriately.

 

“If the committee satisfactorily completed its assignment as given by Mr. President and submitted its report, the same committee cannot still be the one implementing the report unless authorized by Mr. President to do so. And if Mr. President is taking actions on the report of the committee by a higher authority this cannot be taken as an indictment of the SGF or members of the committee that produced the report, or that he was replaced,” Adebiyi said.

 

He added: “There are many factors in the work of the committee, like others that may be asked to carry out a mandate. Mr. President may still have other inputs based on being contacted by persons or groups. After the submission of the committee report, it is the prerogative of Mr. President and not that the SGF committee to decide what to do with the report.

Grass Cutting Scandal: ‘Independent Report’ Clears SGF Of Corruption

A civil society organisation, Citizens Action To Take Back Nigeria (CATBAN) has described as “unfortunate lies”, the interim report by the Senate ad-hoc committee which indicted the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Engr. Babachir Lawal, over alleged abuse of the Public Procurement Acts in contract awarded by the Presidential Initiative on North East (PINE).

Co-convener of the group, Ibrahim Garba Wala, while presenting the report of its independent investigations on the grass cutting scandal in Abuja Tuesday, stated that the contract was carried out contrary to the Senate ad-hoc committee report.

“CATBAN can assert with authority that the contract was indeed carried out. The claims that it was meant to clear grass in IDP camp or that nothing has been done are nothing but unfortunate lies,” Wala said while presenting the report on CATBAN’s facts -finding mission to the North-east region.

Wala said the testimonies of people they met and the evidence before them proved that it was a worthwhile contract that was executed for the benefit of the people.

The report showed that the said grass cutting contract was originally tagged “Award of contract for removal of invasive plants along river channels  and 115 hectares of simplified village irrigation operation in Your state.”

The findings from the report also revealed that Rheolavision Engineering, which is linked to the SGF, was not the main contractor that got the job.

“Rheolavision was engaged only as a consultant even though the Senate committee created the impression that the company of the SGF executed the contract,” the report added.

The report also revealed that the SGF actually resigned from Rheolavision Engineering and all the other companies he had shareholdings in through a letter of resignation to his lawyers,  D. D Azura and co, on August 28, 2015.

BREAKING: SGF, Magu: Buhari, Saraki in closed-door meeting.

President Muhammadu Buhari and Senate President Bukola Saraki are currently meeting at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The meeting is being held behind the closed-doors of the president’s office.Recall that the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami met behind closed-doors with President Buhari on Monday.

Malami, who had been instructed to investigate the involvement of any top government officials accused of any wrongdoing, declined addressing journalists who sought to know what he discussed with Buhari.

A statement on Sunday by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the president, Garba Shehu said any of the top officials accused of corruption will not escape prosecution if found liable.

The statement said President Buhari remains relentless in his fight against corruption.

“The attention of the Presidency has been drawn to a number of reports in the media, in which various accusations of corruption have been levelled against some top officials in the administration.

“In that regard, President Buhari has instructed the Attorney General of the Federation to investigate the involvement of any top government officials accused of any wrong-doing. If any of them are liable they will not escape prosecution,” the statement said.

The Senate last week accused the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Babachir David Lawal of corruption in the award of contracts at the Presidential Initiative on North East (PINE).

A report by the Senate ad-hoc committee on mounting humanitarian crisis in the North east headed by Senator Shehu Sani (APC, Kaduna Central) indicted the SGF in a N2.5billion fraud at PINE. Following Babachir’s indictment by the panel, the Senate resolved that he should resign and face prosecution for alleged fraud. The Senate also said it would provide evidence against Babachir to President Buhari.

The Senate also last week declined confirmation of the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu. Senate based its decision on a security report from Department of State Security (DSS), which indicted Magu of financial misconducts.
The report said Magu failed integrity test and would constitute a liability to the anti-corruption fight of the Buhari administration if confirmed head of the EFCC.

Senator Wabara calls for resignation of Magu, Lawal.

The Former President of the Senate, Sen. Adolphus Wabara, has called on the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu, to resign his appointment following indicting security reports about him. Wabara. who made the call in an interview on Monday in Abuja, also called for the resignation of on the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Babachir Lawal.
The Senate had called for the resignation of Lawal for his alleged involvement in diversion of funds meant for humanitarian services in the North-East. Wabara urged the duo to resign on moral grounds, adding that it didn’t matter if the allegations against them were proved or not. “They should go.
When Obasanjo alleged corruption matter against me I resigned, I resigned to face it. So I mean you resign. Magu and Babachir “Whatever position anybody is occupying is not his father’s position. If there is a moral issue, it doesn’t even have to be proven.
You give way to fight it. “One thing is very clear, it is not witch-hunting. If it is happening to a senator, Nigerians will say yes go ahead and do it but this reports are coming from outside of Senate. “ They did not go there to write or originate the reports and it is their right, it is the right of the Senate to work on any report that they receive judiciously. “What is constituency project when you have very damning and damaging report against the SGF. It is for them to investigate and determine the veracity of that report.
“If the report is really against the SGF, for moral reasons he should go,’’ he said. On whether or not the recent development was a witch-hunt on the part of the lawmakers against Magu, Wabara said the Senate had powers to carry out its responsibilities for the sustenance of democracy. “The Senate has every power to confirm or not to confirm. In this case it is not now a senate problem, or senate issue.
There were security reports from outside the senate for the consideration of the senate. “There were security reports that they received that led to what happened. So, I don’t want to blame the senate. “The senate did not originate the security report on Magu, Magu is a very amiable character but if you as a journalist should go into the authenticity of the reason and the report that the senate received, they did not originate it. “If they had originated it would have been a different ball game.
They had to work with the reports and they took that decision,’’ he said. On the fight against corruption, the former president of the senate said it was not holistic. According to him, “I think the administration is fighting corruption unfortunately it looks as it is about just one man that is doing that. “To me the only man fighting corruption is only the president.’’ In a similar development, the former Deputy Governor of Plateau State, Mrs Pauline Tallen, told NAN that anybody found wanting should be brought to book.
“Whatever are the issues surrounding the non-confirmation of the Acting Chairman, by the grace of God it will be resolved between the Presidency and the National Assembly. “So, I don’t think people should break their heads over this issue, it will soon be resolved by the grace of God.
“If one is found guilty on anything concerning corruption he should face the music, once the facts are there, nobody should be above the law,’’ she said. The Senate had rejected the nomination of Magu as Substantive Chairman of the EFCC over indicting security reports.

BREAKING: Nigerian Senate calls for removal, prosecution of SGF Babachir Lawal

The Senate has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to suspend and ensure prosecution of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, over alleged breach of Nigeria’s law in handling contracts awarded by the Presidential Initiative for the North East, PINE

The Senate’s resolution on Wednesday followed presentation of the report on mounting humanitarian crisis in the north-east by the Shehu Sani-led ad hoc committee.

Mr. Lawal’s company, Global Vision Ltd., is one of the companies indicted by the committee for allegedly benefiting from inflated and phantom contracts – or ones not executed at all – awarded by the PINE.

Mr. Lawal’s firm was said to have been awarded over N200 million contract to clear ‘invasive plant specie’ in Yobe State.

The committee found that as of the time the contract was awarded in March 2016, Mr. Lawal was still the director of Global Vision and that he just resigned in September.

Yet, currently, Mr. Lawal is the signatory to the company’s account.

Mr. Lawal’s directorship of the Global Vision while being a public official – Secretary General of the Federation – contravened Nigeria’s code of conduct for public officials as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, the Senate held.

Global Vision was incorporated in 1990 to carry out ICT services; but it received contract to clear grass in 2016 even while the owner is senior government official, the lawmakers found.

“Babachir Lawal is a disgrace to the All Progressives Congress,” said Dino Melaye (APC-Kogi West); adding that the SGF “is exhibiting anti-Buhari tendency”.

Mr. Melaye led the call for Mr. Lawal’s resignation and prosecution, after Mr. Sani (APC-Kaduna) presented his committee’s report.

Also, Isah Misau (APC-Bauchi) said Mr. Lawal should resigned immediately or be suspended and be prosecuted afterwards.

Mr. Misau said the Buhari administration was having challenges with performance delivery “because of people like the SGF”. He said the SGF was the one responsible for non-constitution of many boards of the federal government.

Mr. Misau said Mr. Buhari should sack and ensure prosecution of the SGF to prove seriousness of his anti-corruption campaign.

“Without the prosecution of the SGF, this anti-corruption fight will go nowhere,” he said.

That of SGF was one the numerous scams uncovered by the report, said Adeola Olamilekan (APC-Lagos). He said Mr. Lawal should resign and be prosecuted.

Mr. Sani’s report revealed that the Presidential Initiative for the North East took advantage of the emergency situation to award fraudulent contracts; and also that the realities in the Internally Displaced Persons camps did not commensurate with funds released.

The Senate therefore resolved that PINE should turn in all documents pertaining to contracts it had awarded, and that all government officials, apart from Mr. Lawal, found to have contravened law in the processes of the contracts should be prosecuted.

The Senate also asked the Federal Ministry of Health to immediately deploy its personnel to the IDP camps to support the international humanitarian crisis managers and military hospitals in the north-east.

It also asked the federal government and state governments in the north-east to ensure an end to acute food shortage in the IDPs camps; and that infrastructures in the recaptured villages and towns be rebuilt so that IDPs can go back to their homes.

SGF Urges NCPC To Embrace FG Policy On TSA

Mr Babachir Lawal, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) has called on the Nigerian Christian Pilgrimage Commission (NCPC) to embrace the Federal Government Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy.

 

This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Bolaji Adebiyi, Director of Press in the Office of the SGF and issued to newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja

 

The statement said Lawal made the call when he received the 2015 Christian Pilgrimage Report of the commission.

 

It said that the SGF commended the commission for its innovations in the funding of its activities and for inspiring Nigerians who perform the Christian pilgrimage.

 

It pledged the commitment of the Federal Government to address the challenges facing the commission.

 

The statement said that the SGF assured the commission that the Federal Government would do its best to ensure that the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) signed with Israel becomes operational.

 

He urged the commission to remain non-partisan in the discharge of its responsibilities.

 

The statement said that the Chairman of NCPC Rev. Nicolas Okoh, told the SGF that the commission conducted four pilgrimages in 2015.

 

“These were the Easter, Youth, Family and Main Pilgrimages. During the pilgrimages, there were no cases of mishaps nor pilgrim absconding,” the statement quoted Okoh as saying.

 

It said that Kennedy Opara, the Executive Secretary of NCPC had told the SGF that apart from visiting Israel for the Main Pilgrimage, pilgrims were also taken to Greece and Rome.

 

(NAN)