By Alaba Abdulrazak
Since the Wednesday’s suspension of Secretary to the Government of Federation, Babachir Lawal and the Director General of National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Ayo Oke; a number of questions have evolved over the way and manner corruption is being handled under the present dispensation.
The fight against corruption which seems to be the hallmark of Buhari’s administration has appeared to be fraught with many inconsistencies. While it is often said that there is no corruption-free society anywhere in the world; efforts can only be made to reduce it to the barest minimum. However, this can only be achieved when it is free from hypocrisy and double standard.
The gritty truth is that President Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade has generated mixed reactions from Nigerians. While some have commended the President; others have criticised his method of fighting corruption. Especially when someone juxtaposes the way and manner President Muhammadu Buhari earlier intervened in the corruption allegation against Babachir Lawal.
THE EARLIER CORRUPTION ALLEGATION AGAINST BABACHIR LAWAL
Babachir Lawal, the Secretary to the Government of Federation who the President Buhari just suspended has been accused of corruption by the Senate last year. The Senate called for his resignation and prosecution following alleged complicity in the diversion of North east humanitarian funds. The decision of the Senate was sequel to the presentation of interim report of the Adhoc Committee on Mounting Humanitarian Crisis in the North East, by the Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Shehu Sani, APC, Kaduna Central. Presenting the report, Sani said that some of the contracts were awarded to companies belonging to top government officials’ cronies and family members, adding that the committee found out that Rholavision Engineering Limited, a company, with Lawal as Director, for instance, was awarded consultancy contract. According to Sani, the company’s major role was the removal of invasive plant species in Yobe on March 8, adding, “Although, Lawal resigned the directorship of the said company in September 2016, it is on record that he is a signatory to the accounts of the company.” Sani further said that aside Lawal’s complicity, the Presidential Initiative on North East (PINE), which carried out the entire procurement activities, contravened laid down rules.
BUHARI’S DOUBLE STANDARD AND CRITICISMS
Some Nigerians who have criticised the government are accusing the President of being biased in the way and manner he is going about the corruption war. People in his government have been accused of corruption and yet the President came to their defence. The President was also accused of spending fortune to acquire glasses and shoes. Also the President was accused of hosting a lavish banquet
running into millions to honour his children who graduated from a London school and Law school in Nigeria.
Also, another misdemeanour to President Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade was the clearance given to acting Chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Magu and Secretary to the Government of Federation, Babachir Lawal then. The President wrote to the Senate to clear the two individuals who have been accused of corruption.
BUHARI’S LETTER WHICH CLEARED MAGU, SGF LAWAL OF CORRUPTION ALLEGATIONS
President Muhammadu Buhari some months back wrote to the Senate.
Buhari in the letter said that he had thoroughly investigated the allegations contained in the Department of State Security, DSS report against Magu and the interim report of the Senate Ad- hoc Committee and resolutions of the Senate on Secretary to the government of the Federation, Engr Babachir Lawal. On Magu, Buhari said that he was convinced that the Acting Chairman of EFCC carries out anti-corruption crusade in line with the vision of the administration, just as he requested for his approval in order to sustain the drive. “Distinguished Senators, in view of my conviction, there is need to maintain momentum of anti-graft fight, while I urge the Senate to reconsider Ibrahim Magu as substantive EFCC Chairman “, President Buhari said. According to the letter, Buhari maintained that the report on the SGF which was forwarded to him was lacking substance that was capable of removing the SGF from office. He argued that only three members of Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Humanitarian Crises in the Northeast signed the report which he said has made it a minor report, just as he said that the report being an interim one should not compel the SGF from office, particularly as serious as SGF office is, adding, “Having gone through the report which emanated from the Senate, I discover it was an interim one and particularly only three members out of nine signed the report.” “Moreso, Babachir Lawal was not invited by the Senate Ad-hoc Committee which is in tandem with the principle of equity and fair hearing.”
REACTION OF THE SENATE TO BUHARI’S LETTER THEN
Reacting to the letter, Chairman of the Senate Ad- Hoc Committee on Mounting Humanitarian Crisis in the North East, Senator Shehu Sani, APC, Kaduna Central, stated that the presidency lied in the report, however described the letter as a funeral service to the anti- corruption war of President Muhammadu Buhari, adding that the presidency fights corruption in the Senate with insecticide, while within the presidency, corruption is fought with deodorant. According to him, seven out of the nine members of the Committee signed the interim report contrary to the letter by the President that only three members signed, adding that in the listing of members of the Committee, his name was removed even as chairman of the Committee.
With the recent suspension of Engr. Babachir Lawal and Ambassador Ayo Oke; President Buhari might have decided to take the ‘bull by horns’ in the fight against corruption. This action will only stand to be commended when the President gives room for proper investigation and prosecution of the suspended individuals. The President should equally give room for investigation should any member of his cabinet is accused of one corrupt deed or the other. It is only when this is done that majority of Nigerians will begin to take this administration serious in the crusade against corruption.