President Muhammadu Buhari suspended Secretary to
the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal and National Intelligence
Agency (NIA) Director-General Ayo Oke after two meetings with his kitchen
cabinet, The
Nation learnt last night.
There were indications last night that the
Presidency may not recall the officials. Besides, the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC) has invited the wife of the suspended DG for
questioning.
But some members of the kitchen cabinet are opposed
to the grilling of Mrs. Folashade Oke by EFCC since the President has raised a
three-man committee to investigate the DG.
They said the presidential panel should complete
its assignment before the EFCC moves in.
The suspension of the two officials was to enable
the Federal Government investigate alleged infractions against them before a
formal acceptance of their resignation.
Babachir will be probed over alleged N200million
contract awarded to a company, Global Vision Limited, allegedly linked
with him by the Presidential Initiative for the North East (PINE) for the
clearing of “invasive plant species” (weeds) in Yobe State.
Oke is being investigated for alleged $43.4million
operations cash, which was found by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) at apartment 7B in Osborne Towers, Ikoyi,Lagos.
The President wielded the big stick after two
meetings with members of his kitchen cabinet on Tuesday night and at about 11am
on Wednesday, a source told The Nation.
At the Tuesday night meeting were the President,
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), Attorney-General of the Federation and
Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami (SAN) and Chief of Staff Abba Kyari, who
has just returned from a medical trip overseas.
The Director-General of the Department of State
Security Service (DSS), Mr. Lawan Daura, who was to be part of the meeting,
could not make it because he was in transit from Saudi Arabia where he had gone
for lesser Hajj( Umrah).
But on Wednesday morning, the DG, DSS was part of the
second session.
According to sources, the
meeting went through the EFCC Interim Report on the $43.4million; a fresh
security report on the PINE contract in which the SGF was implicated; the
Senate Report on PINE and available options.
A source, who spoke in
confidence, said: “The meeting was painstaking in looking at issues against the
two officials, especially allegations bordering on compliance with due process
and financial regulations and alleged abuse of office.
“The outstanding records of
the DG of NIA made the meeting solemn but it was decided that there should be
no scared cow. The implication of the wife of NIA DG on how the safe apartment
was secured to keep the $43.4million was found to be ‘abnormal’.
“Non-disclosure of the cash
to the President after almost two years in office was also said to be
unexplainable.”
“As for SGF Babachir Lawal,
fresh security reports available to the President decided his fate. Some
decisions taken by PINE under his watch were faulted by the meeting.
“The President strongly
felt the two officials crossed the line and he said the excuses were
unacceptable.”
Responding to a question,
the source added: “At the end of it all, the meetings were caught in-between
investigation and immediate resignation of the SGF and NIA DG.
“Some of those at the
sessions wanted the NIA DG to proceed on pre-retirement leave because of the
sensitive nature of the operation of the agency.
“As a matter of fact, the
DIG had personally submitted a letter for leave of absence to the President to
allow unfettered investigation. Oke said he was more interested in the survival
of the intelligence system than his personal survival.”
After weighing the options,
the meetings strongly recommended investigation into the alleged infractions
against the officers to ascertain what went wrong, unmask other accomplices and
learn some lessons for the future.
The source went on: “The
Presidency was of the opinion that there might be more to the $43.4million
haul. It described the covert operations as suspicious with the immediate
administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan rated as complicit.
“The suspension of the
officers was designed to allow the conduct of the investigation into the
activities of the two officers before a final decision is taken.”
Asked why the President
acted decisively on the cases, the source said it was because of the reasons as
follows:
·
need not to compromise of the
anti-corruption agenda;
·
public opprobrium on the grass
cutting allegation against the SGF and the $43.4million cash haul;
·
perception that the government is weak in
taking decisions against its officials; and
·
the need to respect the decision of the
Senate on the SGF to pave the way for the ongoing mediation between the
Executive and the Legislature
The two officers were
caught unawares by the news of their suspension.
Another source said: “As a
matter of fact, there was no formal letter of suspension served on the SGF and
the DG of NIA before the announcement was made.
“They were both in office
when the news was broken to them by their friends and associates. So, they later
heard it on radio and television.
“The Vice President, Prof.
Yemi Osinbajo however had audience with the two officers where he explained why
they had to go on suspension.”
The highly-placed source
believes that the government may not recall the suspended officials. They might
either be retired or asked to formally resign from office, he said, pleading
not to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter.
He added: “If there is any
strong reason to prosecute them, affected officials, the government will do so,
depending on the recommendation of the three-man panel headed by the Vice
President.
“Already, the Presidency is
sourcing for their replacement. Some candidates have been pencilled down. As
for NIA, the suspended DG will soon be 60 and his tenure will end in November.
Technically, he is expected to proceed on pre-retirement leave from August.”
Amb. Arab Yadam (Plateau
State) is said to have taken over as the Acting DG of NIA.
Yadam is said to be the
senior Deputy DG among Oke’s two deputies.
Also, it was learnt that
Dr. Habibat Lawal (Bauchi State), who is the most senior
Permanent Secretary in
the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, has stepped in
as the Acting SGF.
Meanwhile, there was
disquiet in the Presidency last night following the summoning of the wife of
the DG of NIA by EFCC.
The anti-graft commission
has invited her for interrogation over the $43.4million recovered from
Apartment 7B in Osborne Towers. Her company was alleged to have acquired the
apartment for the NIA.
But some government
officials were said to be opposed to the invitation of Mrs. Oke since a
presidential committee was already in place.
“Some government officials
felt the presidential committee should complete its assignment before EFCC
steps in.
“They said it will be
improper and untidy for a presidential panel to be investigating and EFCC is
doing the same thing. “This development is causing some disquiet in the
Presidency,” another source said.
thenation
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