Home FEATURES I Agree That Action On Babachir, Oke Is Too Slow, Buhari Aide

I Agree That Action On Babachir, Oke Is Too Slow, Buhari Aide

Prof Itse Sagay
Prof Itse Sagay

“On the specific issue of the suspended secretary to the Federal Government and the Director of the National Intelligent Agency, I would agree that action has been much too slow.”
This was the position of the chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Anti-Corruption, Professor Itse Sagay, when he spoke on Channels Television programme: Politics Today.
Professor Sagay stressed that President Buhari ought to have taken an “immediate action” on the two of the high-profile corruption cases that came to light under his watch.
“There should be an immediate decision on this matter so that we can put it to rest and move on.”
Ayo Oke, the director-general of the Nigerian Intelligence Agency (NIA) and Babachir David Lawal, secretary to the government of the federation, were suspended in April for their alleged complicit in separate corrupt practices.
A three-man committee comprising Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Babagana Monguno, national security adviser and Abubakar Malami, attorney-general and minister of Justice, was set up by Buhari to investigate the allegations against the two men.
Lawal was grilled by the Osinbajo-led three-man panel over the N220 million meant for welfare of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), in North-East, while Oke was suspended over 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 NIA made a claim.
The committee’s report was submitted in August but the president is yet to take action on it.
Sagay, however, said he had no doubt that the government was committed to fighting corruption in accordance with its mandate and promises. The government, he said, “is fighting corruption with all its might and resources.” [myad]