President Muhammadu Buhari’s surprise decision to suspend Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), David Babachir
Lawal, and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) could signal a new direction in the president’s anti-corruption onslaught, which has often been criticised of being one-sided.
The SGF, Babarchir Lawal, was suspended in connection with the award of contracts under the Presidential Initiative for the North East (PINE) pending the outcome of the investigations.
According to a statement by Presidential Spokesman, Femi Adesina, President Buhari has 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 National Intelligence Agency (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.
“The President has also directed the suspension of the Director-General of the NIA, Ambassador Ayo Oke, pending the outcome of the investigation” the statement read in part.
Both investigations are to be conducted by a three-man committee, comprising the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami and the National Security Adviser, Babagana Mugono, headed by Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo.
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.
The suspension took both men by surprise. It was a dramatic scene at the Presidential Villa after the announcement of the suspension of the two officials by President Buhari.
The suspension of Babachir Lawal was announced while he was in a meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Aso Rock. Emerging from the meeting, Lawal was swamped by journalists who sought to get his reaction to the suspension and he had a look of shock on his face when he was told he had been suspended.
It was clear that he had no idea what had happened while he was in a closed-door meeting with Vice President Osinbajo.
Emerging from the VP’s office, an exchange between Babachir and reporters at the State House went thus.
Newsmen: Your suspension has just been announced. How will you react to the development? Babachir with an expression of shock asked “Who
announced it?
Newsmen: The Presidency. Lawal’s response “Then ask them. Why are you asking me? Who is the Presidency?
Newsmen: Have you been informed of the suspension?
Lawal answered, “By who? About what. What about you? Have you been informed?”
Newsmen: Yes sir.
Lawal: By who?
Newsmen: By the Presidency sir.
“I have not seen it. I should have been given… I have not seen the press release so I cannot comment on it,” he said.
Newsmen: It is currently trending online. Are you doubting the authenticity of the statement?
He answered “I have not seen it.
Newsmen: Tell us the outcome of your meeting with the Vice-President sir.
“I am always here. I always meet the Vice-President. I used to come
here even before I was made SGF,” he said.
Also, shortly after the SGF left the Presidential Villa, the DG of the NIA showed up and was headed to the Vice President’s office, but turned to
look for another entrance to avoid the waiting cameras of journalists.
Oke was driven to the gate mostly used by Service Chiefs but was denied access. His convoy drove off. Later, journalists were asked to leave the entrance to allow him to return for his meeting with the Vice President.
Oke later went into the Vice President’s office for the meeting.
The NSA who is a member of the investigation committee was already in the Vice President’s office.
Immediately after the announcement of the suspensions, Shehu Sani, Chairman, Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Mounting Humanitarian Crisis in the North East, commended President Buhari for taking the decision, while reacting to the suspension of the SGF, David Babachir Lawal by the President.
He said the Senate and the committee have nothing against the SGF, stressing that they were carrying out their constitutional duties.
“We received the report of President Muhammadu Buhari’s action on the Senate Committee report on the humanitarian crisis in the North East investigation into the activities of the Presidential Initiative on the North East.
“It’s commendable that the President has taken the Senate Commitee report and recommendations seriously.
“The sword of truth is not just cast and sharpened for the neck of foes but also for those of friends. Moral gallows are not just meant for a belligerent foe but for a perfidious friend.
“Courage is dispensing justice, greater courage is dispensing justice against our emotions and temptation towards saving a friend.
“It is easier to annihilate an adversary for a heap of wrong than reprimand a friend for a mountain of wrong.
“It is commendable for the President to heed the call to fumigate the throne of lice and bugs with the same ability he goes after rodents afar.”
“The Senate and the Committee have nothing personal against the SGF or any person affected, but we simply did our job in conformity with our constitutional responsibilities and the moral calling of our conscience.
“We cannot cerebrate because a mighty mortal is caught in the trap of his fate, we are neither saints nor angels, but we have a duty to blow the whistle,” the statement reads.
It was Sani’s ad-hoc committee that had in its interim report in December 2016, indicted the SGF in a grass cutting scandal of over N200 million.
The panel called for his removal and prosecution over alleged breach of Nigeria’s law, in handling contracts awarded by the Presidential Initiative for the North East (PINE).
But in a letter to the Senate President in January this year, President Buhari cleared the SGF, saying he was not given fair hearing before the indictment.
It is not clear why the president is making a sudden turnaround to “suspend” the SGF and investigate the allegations made against him by the Senate after the initial clearance.
Critics are alleging that the whole investigations may be an attempt to divert attention from another round of rumours about the state of the President’s health after the Federal Executive Council meeting was cancelled on Wednesday, which once more raised speculations about the state of the president’s health.
There are also speculations that the president may be seeking to reach some form of compromise with the Senate, which has seen several of their reports ignored by the Presidency.
However, the “suspension” of the SGF is also raising questions as to if there are cracks in the Presidency. Babachir Lawal was considered one of the most powerful persons in the president’s kitchen cabinet and his surprise suspension, even without the courtesy of letting him know first, has raised questions on how united the Presidency is on the one hand, and points at the enthronement of principle and decisiveness in the system, on the other hand, politics watchers say.
The president’s move is also seen as his commitment to sanitise the system and send a strong message that no one is above the law in his cabinet.
Elizabeth Archibong and Owede Agbede
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