Osinbajo panel grills Babachir Lawal

Suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Engr. David Babachir Lawal, on Tuesday, appeared before the investigative panel headed by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN).

Lawal, who appeared before the Osinbajo-led panel at about 1pm, later left the Aso Villa at about 3.30pm.
President Muhammadu Buhari had set up the panel to probe Lawal and director-general of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Ayo Oke.

Buhari had suspended Lawal and Oke last week, following Lawal’s alleged involvement in award of grass cutting contract for the IDPs and Oke’s claiming of ownership of humongous N13billion cash.

Lawal’s appearance before the committee was sequel to his indictment by a Senate committee investigating the crisis in the north-east.

The senate committee also levelled allegations of misappropriation against the suspended SGF.

Oke had appeared before the panel on Monday and was quizzed for more than eight hours.

The suspended NIA boss was said to have tendered some documents and explained what he knew about said N13bn cash.

But Oke had stirred the honest nest when he reportedly claimed ownership of the staggering recovery cash, following the raid on the Osborne Towers private home in Ikoyi, Lagos by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The EFCC operatives had discovered $43.4million, N23.2million and £27,800 at the private home, sequel to a tip off by a whistle-blower.

Apart from Osinbajo, who chairs the committee, other members of the panel are the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN) and the National Security Adviser (NSA) General Babagana Munguno (rtd).