President Buhari ordered Babachir's suspension and investigation on claims that he allegedly used his office as Chairman of the Presidential Initiative of On The North East PINE to award fictitious contracts to some companies he reportedly has links to(Read here).
In a statement released today, PDP faulted the move by the President to only suspend Babachir. The party alleged that while their members are being arrested on allegations of fraud, members of this administration that have been linked to fraud are merely being suspended and then investigated. The party is calling for an independent investigation panel into the allegations against Babachir.
Read the statement from PDP below...
Not surprisingly, some Nigerians have applauded the Suspension of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir David Lawal and the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Ayo Oke as indicating a new commitment by President Buhari to fight the anti-corruption war without fear or favour but we are constrained to point out that it is another ruse to deceive Nigerians and dress up the failed anti-corruption war in a new garb.
2. Let Nigerians recall that the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria did set-up an Ad-Hoc Committee in 2016 headed by Senator Shehu Sani, a Senator representing Kaduna Central, to investigate the expenditures and activities of the Presidential Initiative for North East (PINE), which Engr. Babachir in his capacity as the SGF was overseeing. The Committee also investigated the alarming rate of humanitarian crisis in the North-East occasioned by the diversion of grains from the Strategic Grains Reserve and other food supplies meant for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) in that Region.
3. Consequently, the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee indicted the SGF, Engr. Lawal for the mismanagement of PINE Funds and the Award of Multi-million Naira Grass Cutting Contract to one of his companies, Rholavision Engineering Limited and other ghost companies.
4. The Senate in December 2016 after its investigation, recommended the resignation of the SGF, Engr. Lawal and asked President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure his prosecution. But in a swift reaction, President Buhari in a letter dated January 17, 2017 Titled: "Re -Resolution by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria concerning the Humanitarian Situation in the North East Region, Particularly in relation to the alleged role of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Engr. David Babachir Lawal in the contract implementation regime of the Presidential Initiative for North East (PINE)", discredited the Senate recommendations and refused to sack or prosecute Engr. Lawal but instead, cleared him of all wrong doing.
5. In this context, we are alarmed at the Suspension of the SGF at a time that Nigerians and the International Community are excitedly enjoying the Theatre of the Absurd playing out with the Recovery of huge sums of money without owners. Now the APC led Federal Government suddenly realized the corruption allegation levelled against the SGF; and instead of arresting and detaining him as the Government has been doing to PDP members and other Nigerians, he was rather suspended and a committee set-up to investigate him. This is to say the least, double standard.
6. We are at a loss why the President would set up a panel comprising members of his Cabinet to investigate other senior very powerful members of the same Executive. Where is the transparency in that? Not that we doubt the integrity of the Vice President (for whom we have the utmost respect) and other panellists but it appears the matter is being settled within the Government Closet without the transparency , independence and impartiality necessary in a situation like this. Justice must not only be done, it must be seen to have been done. This is especially important given the fact that we recently travel this road when the President asked the Attorney-General to investigate the SGF (on this same matter) and Magu, the Acting Chairman of the EFCC. That investigation cleared the SGF of all wrong doings in the Grass Cutting Scandal as stated above. It is amazing that the President who swiftly accepted the recommendations of the Attorney-General would now suddenly set-up another panel comprising the same Attorney-General to investigate the matter again.
7. The Pertinent question is whether the President has now realized that the initial investigation by the Attorney-General was not thorough or a cover-up to protect a fellow Cabinet member. If that is the Case, then the President need to come clean with Nigerians by formally repudiating and rejecting the Report. He must then tell Nigerians why the author of such a dastard, useless and worthless Report should be included in the new Panel.
8. Against this backdrop, we are constrained to express our lack of confidence in the New Panel headed by the Vice President. Instead, we demand an independent commission of inquiry comprising eminent Nigerians of proven records of integrity, independence and competence. This is the only way by which we can have confidence that a thorough and impartial investigation will be conducted and by which the President also can reassure the general public that there are no sacred cows in his Government for whom there are different set of rules. The present situation amounts to the Government being the Judge in its own cause. We do not believe that justice can be served that way.
25 comments:
U can't suspend sm1 from the street na, they shud take hrt...
Which PDP is this one? These guys should bury their heads in shame! When PDP was ruling, under Jonathan did they ever suspend any of their members for corruption. They protected the corrupt ones and fired whistle blowers like Lamido Sanusi. Fyi, your members are being arrested because they stole money directly from the treasury, under the watchful eyes of the ineffectual buffoon.
This buhari of a man is really really confused, who choose this man as a Nigeria president?
True. But all their hands r stained so no taking sides
Long live LIB
Lol.
These shameless PDPigs are still Wailing.
Their confused cry even sound pathetic like a stray dog whimperin over a lost bone.
Pls More drama.....cos it's so dramatic.
Pls More drama.....cos it's so dramatic.
Hmnm
... Merited happiness
Pdp is a party of wicked,self centered looters who will look like sick unrepentant drug addict maniac,its a shame the poverty designer party is still talking to forming opposition when d dead carcass is smelling all over d nation.Shame.
Pdp is a party of wicked,self centered looters who will look like sick unrepentant drug addict maniac,its a shame the poverty designer party is still talking to forming opposition when d dead carcass is smelling all over d nation.Shame.
You are deviating from the point. We voted PDP out and brought in APC because we feel they can do it right. So we want them to do it right and stop telling us what PDP did not do right. They did not promise us to continue the same way PDP did, so that is why they are been reminded that they promise to do better.
There is a saying that says if you keep mentioning the pass it means the pass was better than the present. APC do as you promised.
You are an idiot. Learn to confront issues not persons. Once again, you are an idiot of a class.
Ode ni e! Stupid question indeed. PMB didn't suspend or prosecute corrupt powerful pple in his government b4 this,PDP & his supporters were crying 😢..Now that he has suspended them & set up an investigation committee who would now recommend them to d EFCC or Police for FINAL investigations/findings, d disintegrated PDP & their unintelligent supporters are still complaining.. Haba! Did much pple know who was d EFCC chairman during GEJ's regime? How much was d stolen money recovered by GEJ let alone fighting CORRUPTION? How many of his own men did he suspend based on this?
You this dog-eating disciple of corruption.I voted him into office & I have no regrets. Go and jump into the water near CMS.
PDP ndi oshi.
This Aboki of warri dat rants in this blog. Come and defend ur Apc club. Supporters club lol. Asshole
It's not about the party. It is about the individual who we voted as our president.
Must PDP talk at every decision taken by FG? If Buhari did not act, you will talk. Anyway, talk is cheap
Buhari is covering up something
Their disgrace will be worst than the one they're giving PDP members.......let's just enjoy this their drama.......lol
@kadiri why btinging sentiment here..jona sacked stella minister of aviation..but let keep all dat aside n face d real issues...Do you think any positive will come over ftom the investigation? The person they want to punish here is the NIA boss...dis govt of BUHARI is the more u look the less you see..God we bring ua out from the hands of PDP N APC SOON..A REVOLUTION IS COMING N IT SO CLOSE..
@kadiri why btinging sentiment here..jona sacked stella minister of aviation..but let keep all dat aside n face d real issues...Do you think any positive will come over ftom the investigation? The person they want to punish here is the NIA boss...dis govt of BUHARI is the more u look the less you see..God we bring ua out from the hands of PDP N APC SOON..A REVOLUTION IS COMING N IT SO CLOSE..
Is a shame that pple still foolishly trust this sick party called APC. One thing fools like u should know is that APC have bigger problem than PDP go and find out. Secondly we re in a democracy, there must be an Opposition which the PDP we doing but u see fools making fool of themselves here asking which PDP is this. Let me take u back, when PDP was in power we did not here of Fulani going to kill fellow Nigeria's in the busy or farm am I correct? Till date Mr. President have not addressed that issue still he's telling Nigeria's to go to farm and die. Lastly how is APC better than PDP if I may ask u foolish supporters. Nigeria's be wise, is not about Party anymore but who can take us out of where APC or PDP have put us. Let it be party ABC, provided the country move forward. That's my take about this thank u fellow Nigeria's with brain.
Well first should be suspension, then investigation and when confirmed culpable, arrests will follow. Lets wait and see rather than jump the gun.
My name: Chika
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