By President Muhammadu Buhari moments ago suspended the duo of Babachir David Lawal; Secretary of the Government of the Federation and Ambassador Ayo Oke Director General of the National Intelligence Agency; over allegations of violations of law & due process and breach of law or security procedure respectively.
The suspension was announced by the Presidentialspokesperson, Femi Adesina in Abuja via a press statement.
Adesina revealed that President Buhari ordered the stepping down of the SGF so that investigations into the awards of contracts under the Presidential Initiative on the North West (PINE) which was headed by Lawal can be carried out by a Special Committee.
Adesina stated that the Vice President, Attorney-General of the Federation & Minister of Justice and National Security Adviser are to carry out the two investigations, with the VP heading the Committee.
Buhari also directed that the most senior Permanent Secretary in the SGF’s office is to step in while the most senior officer in NIA is to step in to act as DG.
See the full statement below…
PRESIDENT BUHARI SUSPENDS SGF AND DG, NIA
President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered an investigation into the allegations of violations of law and due process made against the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr David Babachir Lawal, in the award of contracts under the Presidential Initiative on the North East (PINE).
The President has also directed the suspension of the SGF from office pending the outcome of the investigations.
In a related development, the President has 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.
A three-man Committee comprising the Hon. Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, and the National Security Adviser, headed by the Vice President, 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.
