Sen Matthew Urhoghide, Sani, Others Hail Babachir Lawal’s Suspension

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism, Mr Matthew Urhoghide, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for suspending Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Babachir Lawal.

The lawmaker told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a telephone interview on Wednesday that the move was evidence that the president was ready to fight corruption irrespective of who was involved.

Mr Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, who announced the suspension in a statement on Wednesday, said Buhari also ordered investigation into allegations of violations of law and due process against the SGF.

The Senate Ad hoc Committee on Mounting Humanitarian Crises in the North-East had, in an interim report, indicted Lawal in the award of contracts under the Presidential Initiative on the North-East (PINE).

Urhoghide said the suspension was a welcomed development.

He added that contrary to beliefs that the National Assembly was out to witch-hunt members of the executive, the assembly had sincerity of purpose in the discharge of its duties.

According to him, the legislature is always ready to compliment efforts of the other arms of government towards a sustainable democracy.

“Some of the decisions of the assembly are reached on the merit of their cases.

“So, if the president now considers that it is a good thing for him to take a look at the report from the Senate, which was given in good faith, it is nice.

“It shows that we are all working together as a team.

“If we are fighting corruption we should fight corruption. So, if the president now sees that the position of the senate is right it is good for him to sanction his own employees,’’ Urhoghide said.

He urged the president to also take a look at the senate’s rejection of the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu.

“The president should also take a look at recommendations made with regard to Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (retd), and other issues,’’ he added.

He explained that the stand of the senate on Magu and Ali was not as a result of any personal issues but in the best interest of the country.

“As we expect more of these cases to come up, I want to assure us that there is no rift between the legislature and the executive.

“We are all complimenting each other’s effort in fighting corruption, and that is the truth.

“I hope the president will also look at the senate’s recommendation about Magu and CG of customs and others which were given in good fate.

“The president should look at the reports and act accordingly. We are not witch-hunting anybody.
“Whatever recommendation the senate sends to the president is in good faith, because we are all working for the development of the nation and sustenance of democracy,’’ the lawmaker said.

On his part, Chairman of the ad hoc committee investigating the North-East crises, Sen. Shehu Sani, in a statement in Abuja applauded the action of the president on the committee’s report.