President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the suspension of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayodele Oke.
This was announced in a statement in a statement by President Buhari’s Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Femi Adesina on Wednesday.
President Buhari ordered an investigation into the allegations of violations of law and due process made against Lawal, in the award of contracts under the Presidential Initiative on the North East (PINE).
Babachir Lawal (Left), Ayodele Oke (Right)
Recall that the Senate had called for Lawal’s resignation and prosecution over alleged diversion of N233m from the federal government coffers, for “removal of invasive plant species” in Yobe.
The President also ordered a full scale investigation into the discovery of large amounts of foreign and local currencies by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a residential apartment at Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos, over which the NIA has made a claim.
The investigation is also to enquire into the circumstances in which the NIA came into possession of the funds, how and by whose or which authority the funds were made available to the NIA, and to establish whether or not there has been a breach of the law or security procedure in obtaining custody and use of the funds.
A three-man Committee comprising the Hon. Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami and the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno headed by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo is to conduct both investigations.
The Committee is to submit its report to the President within 14 days.
The most senior Permanent Secretary in the SGF’s office, and the most senior officer in the NIA, are to act, respectively, during the period of investigation.