The intrigues surrounding the supposed battle for corruption may have many more folds than meets the eye. Information available to 247ureports.com reveals that the recent suspension of the Secretary to Government of Federation [SGF], Babachir Lawal and the Nigerian Intelligence Agency [NIA], boss, Mr. Oke by the vice president may have struck nerves within the cabal that had held the Buhari administrative engine room hostage. This is as available information suggests the President may be unwilling to adopt the comprehensive recommendation contained in the probe report presented by the Vice President.
Loading ...A source who is highly placed within the presidency and competent to speak on the investigation confirmed both the NIA boss and the SGF were clearly indicted by the investigation report. Both men were recommended to be sacked. Further investigation was also recommended of both men for possible legal actions. He also explained why the President seem reluctant to act on the recommendation. He pointed to the bulky and exhaustive nature of the report. “The President is a thorough person. He wants to go through the report piecemeal” explained the source who also expressed frustration over other factors appearing to subvert the report. He states that there are clashes of interests from many quarters wanting to stop the President from acting on the recommendations of the report. Most evident is Mamman Daura who reportedly was responsible for the appointment of Babachir Lawal as the SGF. Daura has come against the sacking of Babachir Lawal.
For this reason, “the SGF is an important person to the President” explained the source as he pointed to the sweeping content of the report. “Many heads will roll if the President acts on the reports”. The top boss at the Bureau of Public Procurement [BPP], Mamman and his top staff would be among the list to be sacked. The SGF is reported to have collaborators within the federal civil service – for him to have achieved the exorbitant inflation of contract and diversion of funds in his private account. Our source also confirmed the top boss at the BPP was grilled by the Osinbajo led investigation committee for a little over three hours. And it is believed that his testimony was unsatisfactory and self-indicting.
Babachir Lawal who has pledged and/or threatened to expose his co-conspirators in the diversion of funds and inflation of contracts fiasco, is reported to hint that relatives of the President were willing partners in the deal and other ‘unholy’ deals. Specifically, Babachir is quoted as having been aware and/or been involved with illegal deals with brothers to the wife of the President and direct relatives to the President himself. For this reason, Babachir was not cooperative with the investigation committee. According to our source, when the Osinbajo completed their investigation, they had given Babachir a firsthand copy of the report to read and respond to. But Babachir failed to do so in the same manner he snubbed the national assembly [NASS] when he was invited for questioning – before he was indicted by the NASS.
Meanwhile, Babachir still operates with all the paraphernalia of the office. His Maitama home located along Lake Chad still has the full security details of an SGF along with the presidential vehicles. Our source adds that Babachir has not been taking his fight to return to office lightly. “He is determined to return or else he pulls the rug”. He is lobbying heavily. But “it is expected the President will give him a soft landing. He may just relieve him of his duties”, without criminal prosecution.
On the part of the NIA boss, our source reveals the presidency has decided to act in secrecy being that the office of the NIA is highly sensitive, and touches on national security. Nonetheless, it is expected the President will relieve the NIA top boss of his duties.
The investigation report had been submitted to the President on August 23, 2017, and the federal executive council [FEC] meeting was cancelled to enable the president understudy the report. It was expected the President will take a decision. But our source indicates that there is no time frame for the said decision. “The President was expected to make public his decision at the FEC meeting of September 6, 2017 but it was cancelled”.
