Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has dismissed as “false” President Muhammadu Buhari’s claims on a Senate report indicting the Secretary to the Government of the Federation for corruption.
Speaking at the Senate on Tuesday after Senate President Bukola Saraki read Mr. Buhari’s letter absolving Mr. Lawal of fraud, Mr. Sani suggested the president’s defense smacked of double standards.
Mr. Buhari had written the Senate, reacting to its demand for the sack and prosecution of Mr. Lawal, whom the Senate accused of breaching federal law in the handling of ‘grass cutting contract awarded by the Presidential Initiative on North East, PINE.
The president in his letter said he could not act as demanded by the Senate because the report of the Senate Ad hoc committee on “Mounting humanitarian crisis in the North East” was signed by three of nine members of the committee.
He also said the SGF was not given fair hearing to defend himself, as he was allegedly not invited by the committee before the indictment.
Mr. Sani chaired the ad hoc committee and presented its interim report last December.
No sooner had Mr. Saraki finished reading the president’s letter than Mr. Sani rose to disprove Mr. Buhari’s claims.
He said seven members, not three as claimed by the president, signed the report.
He also said that Mr. Lawal was invited to appear before the hearing of the committee, adding the the SGF’s office secretary received and acknowledged the invitation.
Further, Mr. Sani said advert was placed in three newspapers for Mr. Lawal and other parties involved to appear.
“Corruption in the Judiciary and others is treated with insecticide while corruption in the government is treated with deodorant,” said Mr. Sani, expressing worry that Mr. Buhari’s letter was full of misinformation and falsehood.
Mr. Sani said he would provide evidence that Mr. Lawal was invited to the Senate through the clerk.
Excerpts of President Muhammadu Buhari’s letter to the Senate on its recommendation to sack and prosecute the SGF for alleged corruption
“You may recall your letter with reference NASS /8X/R/01/5 dated 15th December, 2016 in respect of the Senate consideration of the report of its Ad-hoc committee on the Mounting Humanitarian Crisis in the North East that conveyed the resolution of the committee as contained in paragraph 1, subsection 8 therein which reads as follows.
“Engr. Babachir Lawal having contravened the provisions of part one of the 5th schedule of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, had breached his oath of office and should resign and be prosecuted by the relevant authorities.
“Following a receipt of your letter, I setup a review team to consider the recommendations from the Senate committee. I have also conducted further investigation based on Engr. Lawal’s response to the allegations and issues raised in the Senate resolution. I have come to the following conclusion that I believe will guide the Senate in the proper review of its interim report and eventual resolution.
“The report forwarded to the presidency by the senate which informed the decision that Engr. Babachir Lawal should resign and be prosecuted by the relevant authority S/075/02/016, was an interim report as against a final report which ought to have been presented to the Senate in the plenary for adoption as a binding and final report before submission to the presidency, given the weight of allegations made in the report.
“The Senate committee setup to investigate the mounting humanitarian crisis in the North East comprised of nine members namely, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Senator Mohammed Hassan, Senator Solomon Adeola, Senator Ben Murray Bruce, Senator Tayo Alasoadura, Senator Theodore Orji, Senator Yahaya A. Abdullahi, Senator Mallam Aliu Wakili and Senator Issac Alfa.
“The review of the interim report shows that it was only signed by three out of the 9 members, namely Senator Solomon Adeola, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi, and Senator Isaac Alfa
“The signing of the interim report by three out of 9 members of the committee, makes it a minority report of the Senate committee and not a committee report being an interim report, thus, presenting a challenge for the presidency to determine the weight to attach to the report as currently presented.
“I have also observed that the Senate Adhoc interim committee report and the votes and proceedings of the Senate have not in its own right established that Engr. Babachir Lawal was ever given an opportunity to appear before the committee and defend himself.
“It is also on record that the company linked to him Roller Vision Engineering Limited was also not invited at anytime before the committee to defend itself against the allegations which eventually formed the fulcrum of the Senate’s case against the company.
“You are invited to note that non application of principles of fair hearing by the Senate Adhoc committee is a clear contravention of section 36 (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended and against all principles of rule of law as initiated in the Nigerian legal system as well as the roles of the National Assembly committees on handling of public petitions.
“Consequently, I am of the view that baring other consideration that may arise as a result of subsequent investigation of Engr. Lawal by the interim Adhoc committee, the current report as presented to the presidency in its own right does not meet the principles of fair hearing and compliance with the Senate rules for conduct of investigations in matters relating to abuse of office by public officers.
“In replying on the foregoing, I am not able to approve the recommendation to remove and prosecute Engr. Lawal on the basis of the Senate Adhoc committee report dated 15th, December, 2016.”
