Suspended SGF appears before Osinbajo panel

SUSPENDED Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), David Babachir Lawal, took his turn to appear before the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s investigation committee on Tuesday.

The three-man committee, comprising the National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Munguno, and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, had a session with the SGF lasting about two and a half hours at the Vice President’s wing of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He is facing allegations of corruptly awarding contracts under the Presidential Initiative on North East (PINE) to the detriment of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the zone.

Lawal arrived the venue of the meeting at about 1:00p.m. and remained with the committee till about 3:30p.m.

He showed no sign of stress when he emerged from the meeting still being attended to by a few aides including a police officer who carried his files.

The SGF had previously been cleared by the Federal Government following the submission of an indicting report by the Senate Committee led by Senator Shehu Sani, which also investigated the PINE contract awards.

He was suspended with the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayo Oke, who, on Monday, appeared before the  committee.

Oke’s issue has to do with the circumstances surrounding the stash of $43 million cash discovered in a flat on Osborne Road, Lagos, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recently.

The NIA DG was sighted at the venue of the committee meeting on Monday.

The committee is expected to submit its report to President Muhammadu Buhari next week.